Chapter 5 - South Asia

Note: Click tabs below to toggle content

About

Chapter 5 introduces the music and associated cultural activities from South Asia, including north and south India, as well as Pakistan. The opening site deals in depth with Hindustani Raga, a prominent classical style from the region, introducing readers to fundamental features of form, style, instrumentation, pedagogy, and cultural associations.  Carnatic vocal performance complements this examination of classical literature, followed by explorations of dance (Kathakali), devotional song (bhajan) typically performed by non-professionals, and popular film song from India.  Qawwali, also a type of devotional song related to Sufis, is studied in association with Pakistan, followed by a brief introduction to bhangra, a folk music that evolved into a global popular music genre.

Key Terms

  • Alap (also Alapana)
  • Anundrutam
  • Anupallavi
  • Aradhana
  • Bansri (also Bansuri)
  • Bauls
  • Baya
  • Bhajan
  • Bhangra
  • Bin
  • Bollywood
  • Bols
  • Caranam
  • Carnatic (also Karnatak)
  • Caste system
  • Chiz
  • Dhrupad
  • Dilruba
  • Drutam
  • Filmi (also Filmi Git)
  • Gat
  • Ghunur
  • Gopiyantra (also Ektara)
  • Gospel
  • Guru
  • Hanuman
  • Harmonium
  • Hindustani
  • Jaltarang
  • Jati
  • Jhala
  • Jor
  • Kartal
  • Kathakali
  • Khyal
  • Kriti
  • Laghu
  • Lata Mangeshkar
  • Mode
  • Mridangam
  • Nagasvaram
  • Pallavi
  • Qawwali (also Kawwali)
  • Raga
  • Rama
  • Rasa
  • Ravana
  • Ravi Shankar
  • Sarangi
  • Sarod
  • Sita
  • Sitar
  • Solfege
  • Sympathetic strings
  • Tabla
  • Tala
  • Tavil
  • Theka
  • Venu
  • Vina

Flashcards

Practice Quiz

Interactive Listening Guides

Videos

For more world music videos, visit the World Music YouTube Channel.

Ustad Ail Akbar Khan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hobK_8bIDvk
Sathya Sai Baba Singing “Govinda Krishna Jay” Bhajan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=-pUzkA22NOs
Sowmya: On Carnatic Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJa63MLFt_U
Kiranavali: Carnatic Vocal Recital
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUENmfe9YIg
Sowmya: Carnatic Vocal Recital
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNFkaeL61wY

On Your Own Time Links

Links and Further Resources

India


Audio:
The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Nimbus Records, NI 5536/9, 1999.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-raga-guide-a-survey-74/id220037848
Book:
Ganti, Tejaswini. Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema. New York: Routledge, 2004. (2nd edition, 2012)
http://www.routledge.com/9780415583886/
Book:
Lavezzoli, Peter. The Dawn of Indian Music in the West. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, Inc., 2007.
Book:
Nelson, David P. Solkattu Manual: An Introduction to the Rhythmic Language of South Indian Music. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2008.
Book:
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Music of India. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Website:
Ali Akbar—College of Music
http://www.aacm.org/
Website:
Bhangra
http://www.bhangra.org/
Website:
Chhandayan (Indian Classical Music)
http://www.tabla.org/
Website:
Official website of Ravi Shankar
http://www.ravishankar.org/
Popular Artists from India:
A.R. Rahman
Lata Mangeshkar
Asha Bhosle
Sukhwinder Singh
Alka Yagnik
Udit Narayan
Malkit Singh
Daler Mehndi

Pakistan


Audio:
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Shahen Shah. Real World Records, 1989.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/shahen-shah/id365314759
Book:
Qureshi, Regula Burckhardt. Sufi Music of India and Pakistan: Sound, Context, and Meaning. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006.
Website:
Pakistani Music
http://www.pakistanimusic.com/
Popular Artists from Pakistan:
Ahmed Rushdi
Nazia Hassan
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan