North Indian Classical Music: Structure, Culture and Lyric

North Indian classical music (NICM) has a rich history of three thousand years with influences from multiple cultures/languages. This course will explore linguistic/cultural/musical aspects of NICM culture. Texts and music include Bandishes (songs), using four different languages–Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, and Brajbasha, exploration of multilingual and multicultural aspects of text and melody construction, fundamental monophonic musical structure and improvisation (NICM-based definitions of raaga (melody) and thala(rhythm). Theoretical principles include the Bhathkandes notation system. Live performances of main ragas and compositions in different dialects. Students learn to play tanpura, a traditional instrument.