ABout the art formS

Hindustani music is a system of music commonly associated with northern and northwestern India. Also known as Shastriya Sangeet, it is one of two main subgenres of Indian classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu traditions, the other subgenre being Carnatic music, from Southern India. Hindustani music emerged as a distinct form due to its Persian and Islamic influences. This combination of Indian musical tradition with Persian-Arab influences resulted in the unique gharana tradition of musical education.

The central notion in the Hindustani system, as in Carnatic music, is that of a melodic musical mode or raga, sung to a rhythmic cycle or tala. It is melodic music, with no concept of harmony. Although there are stylistic differences, the basic elements of sruti (the relative musical pitch), swara (the musical sound of a single note), raga (the mode or melodic formulæ), and tala (the rhythmic cycles) form the foundation of improvisation and composition in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. Although improvisation plays an important role, The major vocal forms or styles associated with Hindustani classical music are dhrupad, khyal, and tarana. Light classical forms include dhamar, trivat, chaiti, kajari, tappa, tap-khyal, ashtapadis, thumri, dadra, ghazal and bhajan; these do not adhere to the rigorous rules of classical music.

The Tabla is a pair of drums played by hand as percussive accompaniment in the Hindustani music system. It features prominently in Hindu and Sikh devotional music traditions, as well as in the qawwali music of Sufi tradition. It is an important instrumental accompaniment in Kathak dance tradition as well. Deriving from the Arabic term 'tabl’, meaning drum, the tabla consists of two drums of slightly different shapes and sizes, played with intricate and complex movements of the fingers and palms to create different tones and patterns.

Faculty

Vocal: Mounika Karnam

Tabla: Jason Zinn

Curriculum