music
TRANSCRIPT
Seminar Report 2012-2013 Music
ABSTRACT
The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, classical
music and R&B. India's classical music tradition, including Carnatic and Hindustani
music, has a history spanning millennia and developed over several eras. Music in
India began as an integral part of socio-religious life and that Indian music is
essentially melodic: sounds follow one another expressing an emotional state in an
aesthetic unity.
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CLASSIFICATION OF MUSIC
3. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
4. TYPES OF INSTRUMENTS
5. MUSIC THERAPY
6. CONCLUSION
7. REFERENCE
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INTRODUCTION
Indian Music is probably the most complex musical system in the world with a
very highly developed melodic and rhythmic structure. This (structure) includes
complicated poly-rhythms, delicate nuances, ornamentations and microtones which
are essential characteristics of Indian music. This makes it very difficult to notate
every detail in Indian music.
Originally Indian music was passed on by oral tradition (lit. Guru means
teacher; shishya means student and parampara means tradition) from one generation
to another for centuries. The music was never written down until much later. The
notation system was actually developed much later more as a memory-aid than
something from which to learn or something from which to perform. This is why the
tradition wherein the student learns from a Guru on a "one-on-one" basis is
considered to be the only real way to learn music since there are so many aspects that
cannot be learned from a book because the existing notations are only a skeletal
representation of the music.
Indian Music had its origins in the Vedas (4000 B. C. - 1000 B. C.) Four in
number, the Vedas are the most sacred texts which contain about a thousand hymns.
They were used to preserve a body of poetry, invocations and mythology in the form
of sacrificial chants dedicated to the Gods. Great care was taken to preserve the text,
which was passed down by oral tradition, so much so that both the text and the rituals
remain unchanged to this day. The literature of the Vedas is divided into four parts:
the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Atharva Veda. The oldest, the
Rig, dates back to about 4000 B. C. It was recited, at first, in a monotone; it was later
developed to three tones (one main tone, and two accents, one higher and the other
lower called Udatta and Anudatta respectively.) This was done to accentuate the
words since the text was of primary importance. The Yajur Veda which mainly
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consists of sacrificial formulas mentions the Veena as an accompaniment to vocal
recitations during the sacrifices.
CLASSIFICATION OF MUSIC
The two main traditions of classical music are Carnatic music, found
predominantly in the peninsular regions, and Hindustani music, found in the northern
and central regions. Basic understanding of this music that includes Shruti, Swara,
Alankar, Rāga, Tāla. Its tonal system divides the octave into 22 segments called
shrutis, not all equal but each roughly equal to one quarter of a whole tone of Western
music. Melody is based on the system of ragas, which are melody types used as the
basis for improvisation.
Hindustani music
Hindustani music, one of the two principal types of South Asian classical
music, found mainly in the northern three-fourths of the subcontinent, where Indo-
Aryan languages are spoken. (The other principal type, Karnatak music, is found in
the Dravidian-speaking region of southern India.) The two systems diverged
gradually, beginning in the 13th century, when the Islamic conquest of northern parts
of the subcontinent introduced highly influential Arab and Persian musical practices
that then merged with Hindu traditions. (The influences from Muslim cultures played
virtually no role in the development of Karnatak music.)
Northern India shares with the south the use of ragas (melodic frameworks for
improvisation and composition), the rhythmic principles of tala (cyclic metric patterns
sometimes of great complexity), and the practice of nonmetric, rhythmically “free”
improvisation. Although vocal music plays an important role, instrumental music is
more important in Hindustani music than it is in Karnatak; there are some purely
instrumental forms, such as the theme with variations known as gat.
The most prominent instruments of Hindustani music are the sitar (a long-
necked fretted lute with about 30 melodic, drone, and sympathetic strings), sarod (a
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short-necked unfretted lute with sympathetic and drone strings), sarangi (a bowed
fiddle), shehnai (an oboelike wind instrument), tabla (a set of two drums played by
one musician, the right-hand drum carefully tuned), and tambura (a large long-necked
lute with four strings, used only to play the supporting drone, a single repeated chord).
A typical Hindustani performance, which may last well over an hour, begins
with a long, nonmetric improvisation (alapa, or alap) by the singer or melodic soloist,
followed by jor, or improvisation without metric cycle but with a perceptible pulse,
and eventually by the similar but faster jhala. Then follows the composed piece,
which is performed with improvised variations—most typically khayal (a poetic form)
in vocal music and gat, a short, rhythmically distinctive theme, in instrumental music.
Here, the soloist is accompanied by the percussionist on tabla, and the improvisations
often involve various kinds of virtuosic rhythmic competition and cooperation.
The centres of Hindustani music in the 21st century are the cities of Delhi,
Kolkata (Calcutta), Varanasi, and Mumbai (Bombay), but, until the early part of the
20th century, smaller cities with princely courts, such as Jaipur, Agra, and Gwalior,
played a major role. In the early 21st century, the practitioners of Hindustani music
best-known outside the subcontinent included Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and
Bismillah Khan.
Carnatic music
Galaxy of Musicians by Raja Ravi Varma depicts Indian women dressed in
regional attire playing a variety of musical instruments popular in different parts of
the country. The present form of Carnatic music is based on historical developments
that can be traced to the 15th - 16th centuries AD and thereafter. However, the form
itself is reputed to have been one of the gifts bestowed on man by the gods of Hindu
mythology. It is one of the oldest musical forms that continue to survive today.
Carnatic music is melodic, with improvised variations. It consists of a composition
with improvised embellishments added to the piece in the forms of Raga Alapana,
Kalpanaswaram, Neraval, and, in the case of more advanced students, Ragam Tanam
Pallavi. The main emphasis is on the vocals as most compositions are written to be
sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a
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singing style (known as gāyaki). There are about 7.2 million ragas (or scales) in
Carnatic Music, with around 300 still in use today.
Purandara Dasa is considered the father of carnatic music. Sri Tyagaraja, Sri
Shyama Shastry and Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar are considered the trinity of carnatic
music and with them came the golden age in carnatic music in the 18th-19th century.
Noted artists of Carnatic Music include MS Subbulakshmi, Ariyakudi
Ramanuja Iyengar (the father of the current concert format), Semmangudi Srinivasa
Iyer, Prapancham Sita Raman, TN Seshagopalan and more recently Sanjay
Subrahmanyan, Balamuralikrishna, K J Yesudas, N.Ramani, Lalgudi Jayaraman,
umayalapuram sivaraman, Dr.Mysore Manjunath, Mysore Nagaraj, TM Krishna,
Bombay Jayashri, etc.
Every December, the city of Chennai in India has its six week-long Music
Season, which has been described as the world's largest cultural event. It has served as
the foundation for most music in South India, including folk music, festival music and
has also extended its influence to film music in the past 100–150 years or so.
Western music
Classical music, a genre of art music produced or rooted in the traditions of
Western liturgical and secular music from the 10th century onward. The canonical
common practice period was from 1550 to 1900, although the style continues to be
performed and developed to this day.
Western music (North America), a style of music that celebrates the life of the
cowboy. Originally a form of folk music with English, Irish, Scottish, and Mexican
influences that developed in the western areas of the United States and Canada.
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MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Hindustani Music and Instruments
India is a diversified land which does offer growth for many music forms a
genres. As a result of this, the arsenal of Indian musical instruments is far more
complete than any other cultural music. Various unique instruments have established
a sacred place in the whole musical scenario of Indian music.
Hindustani music of India which is mostly practiced in the Northern part of
India has a set of musical tools which distinguishes them from other music. A shade
of Persian and Arabic influence is found in the true Hindustani music.
Tabla: Most popular instrument of
North India, Tabla consists of two drums. The
bigger of them is called the ‘Bayan’ and the
smaller is known as ‘Dayan’. The drums are
tuned to a specific note depending on the mood
of the music. Usually the Dayan (right hand
side drum) is made of wood while the Bayan (left hand side drum) is made of metal-
brass, copper or even aluminum. Tabla has two resonators and the tension of both
drums differ from each other. Rag and Tal, two major concepts of Hindustani music
can be easily played on Tabla.
Santoor: The ancient instrument of India,
Santoor has its origins in Kashmir. The trapezoidal
instrument originally had 100 strings and was
known as Shata-tantri Veena. Now-a-days, Santoor
is comprised of 72 strings and is played by
hammering a special shaped ‘mezrab’. Made from
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walnut wood, a range of 3 octaves is possible due to the sets of bridges. The particular
technique is improvised for a specific position and is practiced in the same manner.
Sarangi: A bowing instrument which is
more popular in Rajasthan folk music, Sarangi
consists of 40 strings. 37 out of them are
sympathetic and are played in vertical position.
Every string is to be pressed by nails while bow is
maneuvered above them. Sarangi resembles more of
human vocals than any other musical instruments.
Sarangi is made of hollow wood and has ivory inlays which make it unique.
Sitar: This traditional instrument has an
interesting construction which combines 20 frets and 6
to 7 main chords. In order to produce and adjust the
notes, the frets are moved up and down while the
resonator at the base of the neck produces a series of
frequencies. It is one of those instruments which are
difficult to be found in the Carnatic music system.
Bansuri: Often known as the common Indian
flute, the Bansuri is a hollow cylinder which is either
made of bamboo or reed. Normally, a Bansuri has 6 to
7 holes which help in regulating the flow of wind on
the inner walls. It forms the basis of Indian classical
music. The varying lengths of the Bansuri make them versatile in many forms of
music. The air column through the holes creates resonances which are similar to
Indian octave notes of sa-re-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni.
Carnatic Music and Instruments
Music has been an integral part of the Indian civilization. Various musical
forms, rather, classical forms have found their origin from the sub continent itself.
Instruments thus are vital elements which assists the whole process. Indian musical
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instruments are not supplementary to the music. In fact they are the essence of the
whole musical journey
Mridangam: A percussion instrument
widely used in Carnatic music, Mridangam is a
vital instrument in every south Indian musical
concert. It is a double sided drum which was
originally made of clay, but, presently these
Mridangams are constructed from a single wood
block. Jackwood is the most common wood which
is used. The unique fibrous structure, less number
of pores and the wood density is the prime reason for the use of Jackwood. The left
side of the Mridangam, the thoppi, is made of two layers of goat-skin while the right
side has three layers of goat-skin. Unlike the Tabla, Mridangam is a single resonator
and the tension on both sided is inseparable. The instrument is played with fingers,
palms and hands and produces the largest acoustic bass by any instrument.
Veena: As the national instrument of India,
Veena or Vina has a prominent place in both Carnatic
and Hindustani music. Carnatic music uses Saraswati
Veena (with frets) and Chitra Veena (without frets)
while Hindustani music uses Rudra Veena (with
frets) and Vichitra Veena (without frets). This most
ancient wooden, string instrument has a resonator attached to its neck. Saraswati
Veena has 24 metal frets under 4 principle metal strings which brings desired
frequencies. Playing a Veena is not a child’s play; one has to have proper syncing of
both hands which simultaneously work on both frets and strings.
Venu: The side windblown, keyless
transverse flute of bamboo has found its importance
in the South Indian music from years. A more
sophisticated instrument as compared to Bansuri
(similar instrument used in North Indian music with
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6/7 holes). Venu has 8 holes which are capable of producing 2 ½ octaves (just like
human voice) when wind is overblown or fingers are crossed on the holes.
Ghatam: Made from clay/mud, Ghatam is one
of the versatile south Indian musical tools. It uses clay,
copper, brass and iron filings while its production. The
playing of the instrument uses both hands, fingers, nails
wrists and even heels to create bass on the inner
surface. The mouth of the instrument is pressed against
the stomach which helps in controlling the vibrations
created while striking. The resonance created while striking is the soul of the
instrument.
Harmonium: It is the used in almost all
forms of Indian music. The reed organ
instrument has a keyboard attached to it and
mainly fork on the air sucked or blown through
the free reeds. Played in the similar manner like
that of piano, Harmonium consist of 2 ½ octaves
and a bellow. One hand works on the keyboard while the other operates the bellow to
create sounds of desired pitch, note and frequency.
• Western Musical Instruments
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by
means of a keyboard. It is widely known as one of the
most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in
Classical music for solo performances, ensemble use,
chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also
very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often
expensive, the piano's versatility and ubiquity have made it one of the world's most
familiar musical instruments. Pressing a key on the piano's keyboard causes a felt-
covered hammer to strike steel strings. The hammers rebound, allowing the strings to
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continue vibrating at their resonant frequency. These vibrations are transmitted
through a bridge to a sounding board that couples the acoustic energy to the air so that
it can be heard as sound.
When the key is released, a damper stops the string's vibration. See the article
on Piano key frequencies for a picture of the piano keyboard and the location of
middle-C. According to the Hornbostel-Sachsmethod of music classification, pianos
are grouped with chordophones.
Gitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument,
played either with fingers or a pick. The guitar
consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the
strings, generally six in number but sometimes more,
are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of
various woods and strung with animal gut or, more
recently, with either nylon or steel strings. Some
modern guitars are made of polycarbonate materials. Guitars are made and repaired
by luthiers. There are two primary families of guitars: acoustic and electric.
Acoustic guitars (and similar instruments) with hollow bodies, have been in
use for over a thousand years. There are three main types of modern acoustic guitar:
the classical guitar (nylon-string guitar), the steel-string acoustic guitar, and the arch
top guitar. The tone of an acoustic guitar is produced by the vibration of the strings,
which is amplified by the body of the guitar, which acts as a resonating chamber. The
classical guitar is often played as a solo instrument using a comprehensive
fingerpicking technique.
Violin
Another instrument that has greatly influenced the
development of western music is the violin. Nearly every
classical composer has written something for the violin.
Some used it very heavily, both as a solo instrument and in
orchestral compositions. With the advent of the electric
violin, this instrument has been making its way into other
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sectors of western music. Jazz and rock are beginning to lean more heavily on the
violin as a pop instrument, rather than as a solely classical instrument. The fiddle--
simply another name for the violin--is a staple in many types of folk music.
TYPES OF INSTRUMENTS
String instruments
String instruments are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating
strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in
organology, they are called chordophones. Some common instruments in the string
family are guitar, sitar, rabab, electric bass, violin, viola, cello, double bass, banjo,
mandolin, ukulele, bouzouki, and harp.
Construction
String instruments can be divided in three groups.
Lutes - instruments in which the strings are supported by a neck and a
bout ("gourd"), for instance a guitar, a violin, a saz.
Harps - instruments in which the strings are contained within a frame.
Zithers - instruments with the strings mounted on a body, such as a
guqin, a cimbalom, an autoharp, or a piano.
It is also possible to divide the instruments in groups focused on how the instrument is played.
Types of playing techniques
All string instruments produce sound from one or more vibrating strings,
transferred to the air by the body of the instrument (or by a pickup in the case of
electronically amplified instruments). They are usually categorized by the technique
used to make the strings vibrate (or by the primary technique, in the case of
instruments where more than one may apply.) The three most common techniques are
plucking, bowing and striking.
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Plucking: Plucking is used as a method of playing on instruments such as the
banjo, ukulele, guitar, harp, lute, mandolin, oud, sitar, and either by a finger or
thumbther quills (now plastic plectra) to pluck the strings.
Instruments normally played by bowing (see below) may also be plucked, a
technique referred to by the Italian term pizzicato.
Bowing: Bowing (Italian: Arco) is a method used in some string instruments,
including the violin, viola, cello, and the double bass (of the violin family) and the old
viol family. The bow consists of a stick with many hairs stretched between its ends.
Bowing the instrument's string causes a stick-slip phenomenon to occur, which makes
the string vibrate.
Ancestors of the modern bowed string instruments are the rebab of the Islamic
Empires, the Persian kamanche and the Byzantine lira. Other bowed ins, hardingfele,
nyckelharpa, kokyū, errde effects.
Striking: The third common method of sound production in stringed
instruments is to strike the string. The piano uses this method of sound production.
Violin family string instrument players are occasionally instructed to strike the
string with the side of the bow, a technique called col legno. This yields a percussive
sound along with the pitch of the note. A well-known use of col legno for orchestral
strings is the Gustav Holst's "Mars" movement from The Planets suite.
Other methods: The aeolian harp employs a very unusual method of sound
production: the strings are excited by the movement of the air. Some instruments that
have strings have attached keyboards that the player uses instead of directly
manipulating the strings. These include the piano, the clavichord, and the harpsichord.
With these keyboard instruments too, the strings are occasionally plucked or
bowed by hand. Composers such as Henry Cowell wrote music which asks for the
player to reach inside the piano and pluck the strings directly, or to "bow" them with
bow hair wrapped around the strings, or play them by rolling the bell of a brass
instrument such as a trombone on the array of strings.
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Other keyed string instruments, small enough for a strolling musician to play,
include the plucked autoharp, the bowed nyckelharpa, and the hurdy gurdy, which is
played by cranking a rosined wheel.
Steel-stringed instruments (such as the guitar, bass, violin, etc.) can be played
using a magnetic field. An E-Bow is small hand-held battery-powered device which
can be used to excite the strings of an electric guitar. It provides a sustained, singing
tone on the string which is magnetically vibrated.
3rd bridge is a plucking method where the string is divided in two pieces and
struck at the side which is unamplified. The technique is mainly used on electric
instruments, because these have a pickup that amplifies only the local string vibration.
It's possible on acoustic instruments as well, but lesser convenient. For instance press
on the 7th fret on a guitar and pluck it at the head side and a tone will resonate at the
opposed part. At electric instruments this technique can generate multitone sounds
remniscent of a clock or a bell.
Guitar ( Hollow, Mandlin, Base Guitar)
Sitar
Veena
Thamburu
Violin
Sarangi
Mellophones
Cello
Wind instrument
A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of
resonator (usually a tube), in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player
blowing into (or over) a mouthpiece set at the end of the resonator. The pitch of the
vibration is determined by the length of the tube and by manual modifications of the
effective length of the vibrating column of air. In the case of some wind instruments,
sound is produced by blowing through a reed; others require buzzing into a metal
mouthpiece.
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Using different air columns for different tones, such as in the pan flute.
Changing the length of the vibrating air column by changing the length of the
tube through engaging valves (see rotary valve, piston valve) which route the
air through additional tubing, thereby increasing overall tube length, lowering
the fundamental pitch. This method is used on nearly all brass instruments.
Changing the length of the vibrating air column by lengthening and/or
shortening the tube using a sliding mechanism. This method is used on the
trombone and the slide whistle.
Changing the frequency of vibration through opening or closing holes in the
side of the tube. This can be done by covering the holes with fingers or
pressing a key which then closes the hole. This method is used in nearly all
woodwind instruments.
Making the column of air vibrate at different harmonics without changing the
length of the column of air (see harmonic series).
Almost all wind instruments use the last method, often in combination with
one of the others, to extend their register.
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Sound production in all wind instruments depends on the entry of air into a
flow-control valve attached to a resonant chamber (resonator). The resonator is
typically a long cylindrical or conical tube, open at the far end.
A pulse of high pressure from the valve will travel down the tube at the speed
of sound. It will be reflected from the open end as a return pulse of low pressure.
Under suitable conditions, the valve will reflect the pulse back, with increased energy,
until a standing wave forms in the tube.
Reed instruments such as the clarinet or oboe have a flexible reed or reeds at
the mouthpiece, forming a pressure-controlled valve. An increase in pressure inside
the chamber will decrease the pressure differential across the reed; the reed will open
more, increasing the flow of air. The increased flow of air will increase the internal
pressure further, so a pulse of high pressure arriving at the mouthpiece will reflect as a
higher-pressure pulse back down the tube. Standing waves inside the tube will be odd
multiples of a quarter-wavelength, with a pressure anti-node at the mouthpiece, and a
pressure node at the open end. The reed vibrates at a rate determined by the resonator.
For Lip Reed (brass) instruments, the player controls the tension in their lips
so that they vibrate under the influence of the air flow through them. They adjust the
vibration so that the lips are most closed, and the air flow is lowest, when a low-
pressure pulse arrives at the mouthpiece, to reflect a low-pressure pulse back down
the tube. Standing waves inside the tube will be odd multiples of a quarter-
wavelength, with a pressure anti-node at the mouthpiece, and a pressure node at the
open end.
For Air Reed (flute and fipple-flute) instruments, the flow of air over the
mouth of the instrument forms a flow-controlled valve. Some of the air-stream flows
into the instrument's mouth, leading to an increase in internal pressure, while some of
the air-stream flows across the top of the mouth—through a Bernoulli effect this
reduces the pressure at the mouth, drawing air out of the mouth and leading to a
decrease in internal pressure. When the pressure inside the chamber decreases, more
of the air-stream will enter the mouth, and less will flow across the top of the mouth.
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A pulse of high pressure arriving at the mouth will direct more air across the
top of the mouth; this will decrease the internal pressure, and send a low-pressure
pulse back down the tube. A pulse of low pressure arriving at the mouth will draw
more air into the mouth; this will increase the internal pressure, and send a high-
pressure pulse back down the tube.
Standing waves inside the tube will be multiples of a half-wavelength, with
pressure nodes at both ends. The air-stream across the mouth vibrates at a rate
determined by the resonator.
To a rough approximation, a tube of about 40 cm. will exhibit resonances near
the following points:
For a reed or lip-reed instrument: 220 Hz (A3), 660 Hz (E5), 1100 Hz (C#6).
For an air-reed instrument: 440 Hz (A4), 880 Hz (A5), 1320 Hz (E6).
In practice, however, obtaining a range of musically useful tones from a wind
instrument depends to a great extent on careful instrument design, and playing
technique.
Examples: Harmonium, Flute, Clarnet, Drumpet, Saxphones, Wind Piano
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater (including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles), or struck, scraped or rubbed by hand, or struck against another similar instrument. The percussion family is believed to include the oldest musical instruments, following the human voice.
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The percussion section of an orchestra, however, traditionally contains in
addition many instruments that are not, strictly speaking, percussion, such as whistles
and sirens. On the other hand, keyboard instruments such as the celesta are not
normally part of the percussion section, but keyboard percussion instruments (which
do not have keyboards) are included.
Percussion instruments are most commonly divided into two classes: Pitched
percussion instruments, which produce notes with an identifiable pitch, and unpitched
percussion instruments, which produce notes without an identifiable pitch.
Percussion instruments may play not only rhythm, but also melody and
harmony.
Percussion is commonly referred to as "the backbone" or "the heartbeat" of a
musical ensemble, often working in close collaboration with bass instruments, when
present. In jazz and other popular music ensembles, the pianist, bassist, drummer and
sometimes the guitarist are referred to as the rhythm section. Most classical pieces
written for full orchestra since the time of Haydn and Mozart are orchestrated to place
emphasis on the strings, woodwinds, and brass.
However, often at least one pair of timpani is included, though they rarely play
continuously. Rather, they serve to provide additional accents when needed. In the
18th and 19th centuries, other percussion instruments (like the triangle or cymbals)
have been used, again generally sparingly. The use of percussion instruments became
more frequent in the 20th century classical music.
In almost every style of music, percussion plays a pivotal role. In military
marching bands and pipes and drums, it is the beat of the bass drum that keeps the
soldiers in step and at a regular speed, and it is the snare that provides that crisp,
decisive air to the tune of a regiment. In classic jazz, one almost immediately thinks
of the distinctive rhythm of the hi-hats or the ride cymbal when the word "swing" is
spoken. In more recent popular music culture, it is almost impossible to name three or
four rock, hip-hop, rap, funk or even soul charts or songs that do not have some sort
of percussive beat keeping the tune in time. Because of the diversity of percussive
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instruments, it is not uncommon to find large musical ensembles composed entirely of
percussion. Rhythm, melody, and harmony are all represented in these ensembles.
Eg: Drums (Jass, Tripple,), Tabala, Chenda, Mridangam, Thakil
FUSION
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles.
For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel
and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo,
rhythm, and is sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided into
smaller parts, each with their own dynamics, style and tempo. "Fusion" used alone
often refers to jazz fusion.
Artists who work in fusion genres are often difficult to categorize within non-
fusion styles, primarily because most genres evolved out of other genres. These artists
generally consider themselves part of both genres. For example, a musician that plays
predominantly blues influenced by rock is often labelled a blues-rock musician, such
as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Vaughan, a Texas blues guitarist, used
rock and blues together. Ray Charles, who recorded gospel and jazz-influenced blues,
created what would become known as Soul Music. By fusing the two genres, Charles
pioneered the style of country soul, most famously on his landmark album Modern
Sounds in Country and Western Music, and influenced similar efforts by Candi Staton
and Solomon Burke. Another example of fusion music can be heard in the Middle
Eastern-influenced Franco-Arabic music as personified by Aldo. Franco-Arabic music
uses a blend of Arabic and many western styles, from rock to pop, and from Euro
styles to folk music. Jie Ma blends traditional Chinese instruments (pipa and ruan)
and Western and jazz compositions.
Fusion music as a genre broadened the definitions of jazz, rock, and pop
music. Herbie Hancock fused jazz, funk, rock, and smooth tones to accomplish a new,
rounder, more cultured sound for his band. See Head Hunters or Thrust. These sounds
generally consisted of a standard rhythm section: bass, drums, and sometimes guitar,
with layered keyboard tracks of rhodes, strings, clavinet, organ and synthesizers. Atop
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all of this, sampling was introduced as well as new technologies such as the talk box,
or vocator. Bands such as Brand-X and Return To Forever as well as musicians such
as John Abercrombie and Jack DeJohnette are also in this category.
MUSIC THERAPY
Music therapy is an allied health profession and one of the expressive
therapies, consisting of an interpersonal process in which a trained music therapist
uses music and all of its facets—physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and
spiritual—to help clients to improve or maintain their health. Music therapists
primarily help clients improve their health across various domains (e.g., cognitive
functioning, motor skills, emotional and affective development, behavior and social
skills, and quality of life) by using music experiences (e.g., free improvisation,
singing, songwriting, listening to and discussing music, moving to music) to achieve
treatment goals and objectives. It is considered both an art and a science, with a
qualitative and quantitative research literature base incorporating areas such as
clinical therapy, biomusicology, musical acoustics, music theory, psychoacoustics,
embodied music cognition, aesthetics of music, and comparative musicology.
Referrals to music therapy services may be made by other health care professionals
such as physicians, psychologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
Clients can also choose to pursue music therapy services without a referral (i.e., self-
referral).
Music therapists are found in nearly every area of the helping professions.
Some commonly found practices include developmental work (communication, motor
skills, etc.) with individuals with special needs, songwriting and listening in
reminiscence/orientation work with the elderly, processing and relaxation work, and
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rhythmic entrainment for physical rehabilitation in stroke victims. Music therapy is
also used in some medical hospitals, cancer centers, schools, alcohol and drug
recovery programs, psychiatric hospitals, and correctional facilities. The Turco-
Persian psychologist and music theorist al-Farabi (872–950), known as "Alpharabius"
in Europe, dealt with music therapy in his treatise Meanings of the Intellect, where he
discussed the therapeutic effects of music on the soul. Robert Burton wrote in the 17th
century in his classic work, The Anatomy of Melancholy, that music and dance were
critical in treating mental illness, especially melancholia.
CONCLUSION
In music, the introduction is a passage or section which opens a movement or
a separate piece. In popular music this is often abbreviated as intro. The introduction
establishes melodic, harmonic, and/or rhythmic material related to the main body of a
piece. Introductions may be an ostinato that is used in the following music, an
important chord or progression that establishes the tonality and groove for the
following music, important but disguised or out of context motivic or thematic
material. As such the introduction may be the first statement of primary or other
important material, may be related to but different from the primary or other
important material, or may bear little relation to any other material. If a movement in
sonata form starts with an introductory section, this introduction is not usually
analyzed as being part of the movement's exposition.
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REFERENCE
www.wikipeida.org
www.howstuffworks.com
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