Evolution of Indian Music- Styles, Musician, Instruments etc

Music has always been an integral part of our culture. Indian music embraces everything from simple folk songs to refined classical music. The evolution of Indian classical music traces back to the Vedic hymns in Hindu temples.

Indian music has evolved over thousands of years into a rich and vibrant tradition. Here is a brief overview of the evolution of Indian music:

Ancient Period (3000 BCE - 800 CE)

• Music was an integral part of religious life with mentions in the Vedas and Natyashastra. The foundation of classical music was being developed.
• Two distinct styles emerged - Gandharva (precursor to Hindustani music) and Carnatic (South Indian style).
• Melodic forms called ragas and talas (rhythmic patterns) were formulated. Instruments like veena and flute gained popularity.

Medieval Period (800 CE - 13th century)

• Bhakti movement inspired devotional music forms like bhajans with poet-saints like Purandaradasa and Jayadeva composing songs.
• Persian and Islamic influences introduced new melodic forms and instruments like sitar and tabla.
• The Hindustani style further developed into Dhrupad (temple music), Khayal (romantic music) etc. under Mughal patronage.

Renaissance Period (13th century - 19th century)

• Trinity of Carnatic music - Syama Shastri, Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar flourished composing thousands of krithis (songs).
• Gharanas (styles) of Hindustani music consolidated under masters like Miyan Tansen. Thumri and Dadra genres rose. Dance forms integrated music.

Modern Period (20th century - present)

• Film music gained popularity under music directors from Naushad to AR Rahman. Light classical forms emerged.
• Innovation in melodies and instruments (mandolin, guitar etc.) got introduced into Indian music.
• Globalization led to fusion music blending Indian and Western music. Creation of modern orchestra.
• Revival of many dying musical art forms through institutional support.

Over six millennia, Indian music evolved from Vedic chants to the vast ocean of various vocal and instrumental genres with global influences seen today. The fundamental raga framework remains at its core even now.

List of some of the most popular Indian musical instruments:

String instruments:

• Sitar - Plucked string instrument with resonant hollow neck and gourds, used in Hindustani classical music
• Sarod - Fretless string instrument played with plectrum producing melancholic tones, popular in Hindustani music
• Veena - Ancient plucked string instrument associated with goddess Saraswati, South Indian version is similar
• Sarangi - Short-neck bowed instrument requiring high dexterity to play without frets, used to accompany vocalists
• Santoor - Struck zither instrument with small wooden hammers giving delicate tones

Wind instruments:

• Bansuri - Simple transverse bamboo flute known for its feather-soft radiant tone, prominent in Hindustani music
• Shehnai - Double reed oboe played in North Indian weddings and processions, gives loud, wailing sound
• Nadaswaram - Double reed wind instrument from South India played in temples and weddings, similar to shehnai but longer with a shriller tone

Percussion instruments:

• Tabla - Twin hand drums providing rhythmic structure to Hindustani classical music using intricate finger techniques It is a percussion instrument. The parts of table are: wood, pudi, gajra, baddhi, chanti, siyahi, lav, gatta, gudri.
• Mridangam - Primary rhythm percussion instrument of Carnatic music featuring double-sided drum played using hands and fingers
• Dholak - Twin headed hand drum from North India used widely in folk music, also seen in Sufi qawwali ensembles
• Chenda - Cylindrical hardwood drum from Kerala, used as main percussion in temple festivals giving thunderous beats

Apart from these, harmonium, violin, dilruba, tambura and ghungroo (ankle bells) are some other well-known Indian instruments used in classical, folk, film songs, and religious music. Many bandish-style orchestras blend Indian and global instruments these days.

Some famous Indian musicians along with the instruments they are associated with:

• Ustad Bismillah Khan - Shehnai maestro who took the instrument to the global stage. Known for his scintillating shehnai performances of Hindustani ragas. Won a Bharat Ratna.
• Pandit Ravi Shankar - Virtuoso sitar player and composer who popularized Indian classical music in the west. Known for his memorable jugalbandi performances along with tabla maestro Ustad Allah Rakha.
• Ustad Zakir Hussain - Legendary tabla player considered one of the all time great percussionists of the world. Reknowned for energetic tabla solo recitals and memorable jugalbandis with masters.
• Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia - Globally renowned bansuri (bamboo flute) exponent who expanded the expressions of Hindustani classical music on flute. Known for a meditative style.
• Balabhaskar - Child prodigy violinist blazing an unique path by fusing Indian classical strings with world music. Combined rarely heard instruments like the veena and saxophone through a modern lens.
• T.V. Gopalakrishnan - Mridangam legend who accompanied vocal legends for decades. Known for creative solos reinventing Carnatic percussion possibilities by extracting myriad tonal effects.
• Amjad Ali Khan - Sarod icon who represents the seventh generation of a distinguished musical lineage, carrying forward a 300 year old Indian sarod tradition established by his ancestors.

The list goes on covering instruments like sitar, veena, harmonium, dilruba and emerging instruments like mohan veena, ghatam and more. These musicians have offered outstanding contributions, taking Indian musical heritage to global recognition.

Carnatic and Hindustani Music

The two main genres of Indian classical music are Hindustani and Carnatic. However our music taste has broadened and transitioned over time.

Carnatic Music

Carnatic music, one of the two major streams of Indian music, is indigenous to southern India. It flourished under the patronage of Krishnadevaraya in Vijayanagar, the capital city of Vijayanagara Empire. Purandara Dasa, also known as ‘pithamaha(father) of Carnatic music’, had made great contributions to this genre. He is one of the person who devised a basic scale for teaching Carnatic music.

Even though instruments are used, Carnatic music is basically a vocal art. THE golden period of south Indian classical music was during the time of Tyagaraja, Muthuswai Dikshitar and Syama Sastri. These contemporaries are called the ‘musical trinity’.

Parts of Carnatic Music

Every composition in the Carnatic style is made up of several parts:

Pallavi

• It refers to the first or second thematic lines of the composition.
• This section is frequently repeated in each stanza.
• This is regarded as the best part of the Carnatic composition providing the artist with a lot of room for improvisation.

Anu Pallavi

• The Pallavi or the first line is followed by two lines called Anu Pallavi.
• It is sung at the start and sometimes at the end of the song, but it is not necessary to sing it after each stanza or Charanam.

Varnam

• This is the piece that is usually sung at the start of a recital. This reveals the recital’s raga to the audience.
• It is further divided into two halves: Purvanga (the first half) and Uttaranga (the second half).

Ragamalika

• This is usually the final section of the performance. This is an extremely important part because the soloist is free to improvise.
• However, at the end of the composition, all artists must return to the original theme.

Hindustani Music

Hindustani is a continuously evolving classical music genre of northern India. Until the 13th century, music of the whole nation remained the same. It was after the Mughal invasion that the north Indian expression became copiously influenced by Persian and Arabic music.

Hindustani music has several sub-styles and improvisations. This genre incorporates many instruments, musical forms and ragas from other music traditions.

Pandit VN Bhatkhande is known for his major contribution of compiling Hindustani musical compositions, and publishing the reference series – Hindustani Sangeet Kramik Pusthak Malika. Amir Khusrau, a prolific musician, is believed to have developed the khayal, tarana and qawwali styles of music. He is often called the ‘father of qawwali’ (Indian sufi form). Other artist like Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan popularized Hindustani Music around the world.

Forms of Hindustani Music

Dhrupad

This is the oldest and grandest form of Hindustani music. It is essentially poetic and it is presented in a style marked with the precise and orderly elaboration of Raga. Compositions begin with a relatively long and acyclic alap, where the syllables of the accompanying mantra are recited.

Khayal

Khayal means imagination. This is the most prominent style in Hindustani depicting the romantic style of singing. It largely depends on the imagination and improvisation of the performer. It is also composed of particular raga and tala. It ranges from the praise of king, description of seasons and pranks of Lord Sri Krishna.

Thumri

Thumri originated in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh. It is influenced by Hori, Kajri, Dadra. Thumri is supposed to the romantic and erotic style of singing and is also called “lyric of Indian classical music”. Themes generally revolve around a girl’s devotion and love for Krishna.

Tappa

Tappa developed around the 18th century. The word ‘tappa’ stands for jumping, bounding and skipping. Its tunes are melodious and sweet, and depict the emotional outburst of a lover.

Important Terms Related to Indian Music

The important terms related to Hindustani Music are given below:

1. Nada

• The regular sound that is created of a physical object through oscillations and vibrations and reaches our ears is called nada.
• There are two types of Nada-Ahat Nada and Aahat Nada

2. Shruti

• The smallest form of Nada is called Shruti
• Shruti creates Ragas.
• As per most prevalent view, there are 22 shrutis in a saptak.

3. Svara

• Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni are the seven notes mentioned in the Natya Shastra of Bharata.

4. Saptak

• When the seven notes (sa, re, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni) are organized in sequence, they are called saptak.

5. Varna

• It refers to the various methods or embellishments used in singing and instrumental music.

6. Alankara

• The component that beautifies music is called Alankara. A specific group of varna or group of notes in a particular sequence constitutes Alankara.

Difference between Carnatic and Hindustani Music

Pop Culture Indian Music

Indian pop music, often referred to as Indipop, emerged in the 1990s and has become a vibrant part of India's popular culture. Some key aspects of Indian pop music:

Bands & Artists

Some pioneering Indipop acts included bands like Colonial Cousins, Lucky Ali, Alisha Chinai who blended Indian melodies with Western pop sounds. Modern artists like Nucleya pioneered genres like Indian electronica. Popular singers include Sunidhi Chauhan, Neha Kakkar, Guru Randhawa among many others who have found national success.

Genres

Indipop spun off into related genres like Indi-rock, Indi-electronica, Indi-RnB which fuse Indian elements with international music trends. Bhangra pop emerged by combining Punjabi folk with pop. Bollywood music has also been hugely influential in shaping the pop landscape.

Global Reach

While initially aimed at domestic audiences, Indipop acts have found fans globally especially among Indian diaspora audiences. Artists regularly perform abroad including headlining college festivals and community events. Songs and remixes also get incorporated into the playlists at nightclubs and parties.

YouTube & Social Media The rise of YouTube, streaming apps and social media has enabled Indipop songs to be widely shared digitally among younger fans. Songs often launch exclusively online first before receiving airplay on radio and TV channels. Viral dance trends have popularized Indipop.

So Indian pop has carved its own fusion sound combining desi flavors with mass appeal. It continues to bring fresh and dynamic sounds reflecting India's diverse musical palette for today's connected audiences.

How Indian Music Different From Western Music

Indian classical music is fundamentally different from Western classical music in several ways:

Theoretical Foundation

While Western music is based on harmony and counterpoint, Indian music stems from the concept of ragas (melodic frameworks) and talas (rhythmic cycles). The tonal space in ragas provides scope for intricate improvisation.

Melody & Rhythm

Ragas have ascending and descending notes and emphasize certain swaras (notes) to evoke a mood. Several ragas co-exist without conflict. Rhythm in tala is kept by hand claps or instruments like tabla. Polyphony is uncommon.

Form & Composition

Improvisation based on raga grammar bound by rhythmic tala cycle is key. Compositions exist (called bandish/kritis) but short compared to Western symphonic scores. Exploration of raga is more conceptual.

Vocals & Lyrics

Vocals have prominence over instruments and convey emotional ideas. Lyrics invoke mystical poetry, bhakti (devotion) or romantic themes set in regional languages. Drone background is constant.

Instrumentation

Typical instruments are sitar, sarod, bansuri (Indian flutes), sarangi, harmonium, tabla, veena etc. playing singular melodic roles. Electronic sounds are now blended in modern iterations.

Performance Setting

Traditional settings are intimate, with musician-audience interaction/call-and-response. Concerts happen late evenings going even beyond midnight.

So while both complex systems have capable of great emotional depth, Indian classical music stems from ancient structures prioritizing melodic elements, rhythmic improvisation and spiritual ethos rather than Western harmonic progressions. The goal is to elicit rasa (essence) rather than follow strict symphonic forms.