Essay on “Indian Music” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Indian Music

Indian music has a special appeal not only within the country but also throughout the world. The traditional pattern of Indian  music has survived throughout the centuries of modern civilization and entertained not only the  common people in this country but lovers of music and art throughout the world. Although there are regional styles in Indian music but the basic unity, i.e., of Ragas and Talas concept is uniformly prevalent. No wonder Indian has its influence on the musical patterns in other parts of the world. The Afghani music, the Persian music, the Russian music and even the western music carry the  impact of Indian Ragas and talas. The distinguishing features of the  Indian music have to stay and adore the folk music and dances in different regions of the country. 

Like the western music, Indian music serves as the best accompaniment to classical dances and dramas of India. Dance combines in itself action song, mime and rhythm. A classical dance, like Indian classical music is dominated by the Tala concept. Hence, the  importance of music in dancing.

Indian music is based on melody. It is built on Raga and Tala concepts.  In spirit it is individualistic and the content of the phrases, in the past, was largely devotional. There are two the Karnataksystem. The differences between them are more in practice than their theoretical foundation, as both derive their rules from the same treatise of which the most famous are Bharat’a Natya Shastra and Sarangdeva’s Sangeet Ratnaker. Both systems have shown great assimilative power,  constantly absorbing folk tunes ad regional tilts and thus elevating many of them to the status of  Ragas. They have also mutually influenced each other. The Hindustani system, prevalent over the whole of north and east of Indian and the  upper half of Deccan has been more exposed to Persia Influence.  

The most famous Indian instrument, however, Is the Veena, which is celebrated in the  epics and other ancient books. It has been described as the companion of Saraswati, the  Goddess of learning. It consists of a flat- board mounted on two large grounds and seven strings. The instrument  is played by a deflection of the strings, which are played by the right hand and the notes made with the left. Among the other string instruments are the Sitar with its feminine  grace, believed to have been devised by the poet Amir Khusroo in the 14^th century; the Sarod ( played with a mizrab of plectrum ) with its deep and vibrant notes.

The flute is the  most common wind instrument, inseparably associated with Lord Krishna. The  Nagaswaram in the South and the Shahnai in the North are played on auspicious occasions like marriages and festivals. The Nagaswanam is indispensable for temple processions in South India. A great variety of horns and buglas are in use in folk and tribal music, while brass instruments  of the Western type are in vogue only in military and police bands.

The more famous composers in the North Indian System have been Amir Khusro, Swami Haridas, Tansen, Baiju Bawra, Sadarng, Adarang and Mohamad Shah Rangeele. The southern composers of fame include purandardasa.  Thyagaraj, Muthuswami, Dikshitar, Shastri, Swami Tirunal, Annamacharya and Kshetrajna.

The musical history of India is quite glorious and in spite of some western influences in both instrumental and  vocal. The Indian music  will be ever shining because of the qualities of   its content and structure. The present filmi and rap music is influencing the youth more and more but the classical musical themes cannot be ignored yet for a long time to come.