Edexcel Gcse Music: Rag Desh

Front 1

What is the purpose of a rag desh?

Back 1

Its meant to be played at night during the monsoon season. Sets a mood of romance and devotion.

Front 2

What is the genre of these pieces?

Back 2

North Indian classical music

Front 3

How are they passed on?

Back 3

By oral tradition

Front 4

Instruments used in rag by L. Tanwar

Back 4

Voice (main melody), sarod, sarangi, tambura drone, Pakhawaj, cymbals (used towards the end) and tabla.

Front 5

What year was it released?

Back 5

2004

Front 6

What album is it from?

Back 6

Mewar Re Mira

Front 7

Structure of L. Tanwar rag?

Back 7

Alap: sarangi and then singer improvise a melody based on the rag, in free time.
Bhajan: Like a gat but with a singer, the tabla join in and tempo gradually increases. Mostly un-improvised.

Front 8

Melody in L.Tanwar?

Back 8

Alap: Vocal uses lots of vibrato and portamento.
Bhajan: Vocal part more elaborate, lots of trills

Front 9

What is a sitar?

Back 9

A long necked plucked string instrument with movable frets and a gourd resonator. Has six or seven main strings and twelve or more sympathetic strings running underneath which resonate in sympathy. Played by plucking with a metal plectrum.

Front 10

What is a sarod?

Back 10

A plucked string instrument that is shorter than the sitar and has no frets. It's played by plucking the strings with a large wooden plectrum. Has main and sympathetic strings. Plays ornaments by sliding up and down strings.

Front 11

What is a sarangi?

Back 11

A fretless bowed instrument that is held in the lap. Has 3 main strings and as many as 36 sympathetic strings.

Front 12

What is an esraj?

Back 12

Bowed string instrument played sitting on the floor like the sarangi but with frets like a sitar. Has a number of sympathetic and drone strings.

Front 13

What is a Bansuri?

Back 13

A bamboo flute with holes instead of keys.

Front 14

Name drone instruments

Back 14

Tambura, esraj, shruti box (electronic drone)

Front 15

Name rhythm instruments

Back 15

Tabla, Pakhawaj

Front 16

When was the Anoushka Shankar rag released and where was it recorded?

Back 16

In 2001 live at the Carnegie Hall

Front 17

What instruments are used in the A. Shankar rag?

Back 17

Sitar (main melody), 2 tablas and a tambura drone

Front 18

Structure of A. Shankar rag?

Back 18

Alap: Slow, no pulse, free time, sitar and drone only, improvised.
Gat 1: Steady pulse, faster, tabla provides a definite pulse, more rhythmic, melody composed and more developed and is louder. Use of tans - fast scale passages.
Gat 2: A bit faster

Front 19

When was the rag desh by S. Gorn and B.Wertheimer released?

Back 19

2004

Front 20

What was the name of the album?

Back 20

Priyagitah - The Nightingale

Front 21

What instruments are used in the Gorn and Wertheimer rag?

Back 21

Bansuri (main melody), esraj, tambura drone, tabla

Front 22

Structure of Gorn and Wertheimer version?

Back 22

Alap: Slow, no pulse. Tabmbura drone starts. Bansuri and esraj improvise using the rag.
Gat 1: Steady pulse, faster, tabla provides a definite pulse, more rhythmic, melody composed and more developed and is louder. Use of tans - fast scale passages.
Gat 2: A lot faster

Front 23

Melody of Gorn and Wertheimer rag?

Back 23

Alap: Made up of runs of the raga
Gat: More structured

Front 24

Tempo generally?

Back 24

Rag performances progress from a slow to a fast tempo in various sections.

Front 25

Rhythm?

Back 25

Rhythmic cycvles called Tal are used. 5 different ones are used:
-Jhaptal (2+3+2+3=10 beats)
-Tintal (4+4+4+4=16 beats)
-Keherwa tal (2+2+2+2=8 beats)
-Rupak tal (3+2+2=7 beats)
-Ektal (2+2+2+2+2+2=12 beats)

The first and last beat of a tal is called Sam.
There is usually no sense of pulse in the alap section.

Front 26

Tonality and harmony

Back 26

Melody based on the pitches of Rag Desh.
Rag Desh differed in its rising and falling versions.

Chords are not used in Indian music. The drone on Sat and pa is the only pitched accompaniment.

Front 27

What are the notes of the sangram?

Back 27

Sa* Re* Ga Ma Pa* Dha Ni Sa

*= important notes in rags

Front 28

Texture

Back 28

Has 3 main layers: Drone, melody and rhythm