Indian classical music has a built-in pecking order, not only based on the seniority or ability of musicians but also by drawing a clear distinction between vocal and instrumental music. Vocal performance...
A very gradual and long-drawn out evolution through complex historical and social factors eventually led to two distinct traditions associated with two different ethnicities. The people of North India are, broadly, defined...
The lifeblood of all Indian classical music, whether Hindustani (North Indian) or Carnatic (South Indian), is the concept of raag (in English, spelt and pronounced ‘raga’ after its Sanskrit form – although...
Author: George Howlett The Mridangam maestro discusses cross-cultural teaching, the rhythms of the ocean, and the future of Carnatic percussion. —Part of Living Traditions: 21 articles for 21st-century Indian classical music Trichy...
Author: George Howlett Exploring the sounds, origins, and modern contexts of ten strange, beautiful instruments from India’s classical traditions. —Part of Living Traditions: 21 articles for 21st-century Indian classical music Indian classical...
While the mandolin is often associated with European folk music, its impact on Indian classical music has been nothing short of remarkable, thanks to the sublimely talented late Mandolin U Srinivas (1969...
When you think of the violin, you might envision an older gentleman in a tuxedo playing in a grand concert hall. But in Indian classical music, the violin takes on a whole...
The Mandolin is a stringed instrument that traces its origins to Italy, with its earliest versions dating back to the 17th century. Traditionally featuring eight strings in pairs, it is played with...
The violin, a bowed string instrument, has been an essential part of both Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, blending seamlessly with Indian ragas. Adapted from its Western counterpart, the Indian violin is...
The Viola is a string instrument that is slightly larger than the violin and is tuned a fifth lower. Known for its warm and rich tone, the Viola has a unique role...