Elements of Raga
This system generates the 72 total ragas of the Carnatic music system. It also contains the basic "mother" or "parent" scale.
What is the Melakarta System?
The pattern of claps, counts and waves in a tala.
What is the Kriya?
These instruments form as the foundational soundscape for Indian classical music.
Tambura and/or Sruti box
The main theme or the first section of the Kriti.
Structure: AAA’A’A”A”A’”A (cadence)
What is the Pallavi?
This term precedes the performance of a Kriti.
Unaccompanied by only drone and unmetered.
What is the Alapana (or alap)?
This layer of the musical texture typically contains tamburas or a ____ box that plays the "Sa" or tonic.
What is Shruti?
This is another word for the Solkattu syllables in Tala.
What is bols?
These stringed and plucked instruments are foundational in Indian music mostly made with gourds.
Veena and Sitar
This is the second section of the song that follows the Pallavi.
Structure: 1/2B BB B’B’B”-CB”-CA’A’A (cadence)
What is the Anupallavi?
This is the repeat of exploration of raga BUT with pulsed (non-metrical) rhythm.
What is the Tanam?
This word is an essential part of each note in the raga and can also be described as "ornamentation."
What is/are gamaka(s)?
This is the most common tala and can be subdivided as: 4+2+2
What is Adi Tala?
This instrument is a pair of drums that is prominent in Indian classical music that produces different tones, due to the several layers of animal skin used as the "heads" of the drums.
What is tabla?
The final/concluding verse in a song or kriti. Usually the longest verse and contains more improvisation/exploration of the raga.
What is the Caranam?
This section takes one line from the precomposed Kriti and improvises variations.
What is the Nirival?
This describes the ethical and affective quality of each raga.
What is a rasa?
This is the most common Taal in Indian classical music and creates a 16 beat cycle.
What is Tintal?
These percussion instruments are akin to a tambourine and large lap drum with a head on each side.
THIS IS A TWO-PART QUESTION!
What is the Kanjira and Mridangam?
Term for variations to the melody within the kriti.
What are Sangitas?
This section is based loosely on material from Kriti and often performed antiphonally with an accompanying instrument repeating each line of the solo.
What is the Svara Kalpana?
This describes the movement and/or the development of a raga.
What is Chalan?
This is the standard rhythmic framework or pattern for a particular Tala.
What is Thekas?
These are both plucked instruments BUT
One is a bowed fretless instrument played vertically.
One is (essentially) a fretless lute played in a lap.
THIS IS A TWO-PART QUESTION.
What is: Sarangi and Sarod?
What is the Eddapu?
This is the term for the section in a song which is sung with solfege syllables.
What is the Sargam?