Hindu Scale
DescriptionThe Hindu Scale is said to have a exotic and festive qualities and is commonly used in rock, r&b, rap, and jazz styles of music. This mode is also called:
The tonal system of Hindu music divides the octave into 22 segments called srutis, not all equal but each roughly equal to one quarter of a whole tone of Western music. The basic scales of Hindu music are the ma-grama and the sa-grama. The more important of these, the sa-grama, closely approximates the C Major scale. Ma-grama, which differs from the sa-grama in only one interval, is said to have disappeared from use in the 16th century. Other scales are derived from these by the flatting or sharping of some of the intervals or by leaving out some of the tones. Melody is based on the system of ragas, which are melody types used as the basis for improvisation. There are innumerable ragas, and with each there is an accompanying set of rules for improvisation in that raga. To each is ascribed certain ethical and emotional properties, and each is associated with a certain season and a certain time of day. For a single raga, however, these connotations vary in different parts of India. Hindu tradition celebrates the powers of the ragas; a raga associated with darkness could, if sung in the middle of the day by a singer whose skill was great enough, bring darkness upon the earth. In the performance of the ragas, great importance is attached to the gamakas, the ornaments, or graces that are characteristic of this music. Accompanied song is considered the greatest type of music. In the accompaniment, rhythm is very complex and is based on certain rhythmic patterns, called talas, which are often combined in intricate ways. The two main traditions of Hindu music are Carnatic music, found predominantly in the peninsular regions and Hindustani music, found in the northern and central parts. While both traditions claim Vedic origin, history indicates that the two traditions diverged from a common musical root in the 13th century. Hindustani music is a Hindu music tradition that took shape in northern India circa the 13th and 14th centuries from existing religious, folk, and theatrical performance practices. The practice of singing based on notes was popular even from the Vedic times where the hymns in Sama Veda, a sacred text, were sung as Samagana and not chanted. Developing a strong and diverse tradition over several centuries, it has contemporary traditions established primarily in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In contrast to Carnatic music, the other main Indian classical music tradition originating from the South, Hindustani music was not only influenced by ancient Hindu musical traditions, Vedic philosophy and native Indian sounds but also by the Persian performance practices of the Mughals. Carnatic music is based on historical developments that can be traced to the 15th through the 16th centuries. From the ancient Sanskrit works available, and the several epigraphical inscriptional evidences, the history of classical musical traditions can be traced back 2500 years. Carnatic music is completely melodic, with improvised variations. The main emphasis is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style (known as gayaki). Like Hindustani music, Carnatic music rests on two main elements: raga, the modes or melodic formulæ, and tala, the rhythmic cycles.
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