INDIA

PART 4

Get out packet from Tuesday and review information.

BELLWORK

Proper atmosphereDeep concentrationYou have to keep your mind concentrated on one

place.

In India, especially in urban areas, a quiet environment is not easily accessible; hence, practicing during the night is highly valued.

Solitude, which is usually impossible during the day, allows one totally to immerse oneself in Riaz.

 Allow yourself to make mistakes with impunity.

ELEMENTS OF RIAZ

Think back to this past year.

Name an event that was a great obstacle to you. This could be a school project, a personal confl ict or an unlucky circumstance.

How did you overcome this obstacle?

What characteristics did you exhibit (ie self-discipline, courage, patience. Etc.) to overcome it?

CFU: RIAZ IS GRIT

What Chinese instrument uses similar string techniques as used by the sitar?

How many instruments do you hear?

Describe the sound in terms of timbre and Circle one: Heavy or lightThin or DenseSmooth or jagged

ACTIVE LISTENING EXAMPLE #1: ALAP MALKANS

Alap: The long introductory section of a musical performance. It is characterized by slow, free rhythm.

The alap is serious and profound.

Mir: a portamento glide, made by sliding from one tone to another.

Jinn: a genie; capricious spirit.

The Rag Malkauns attracts jinns if played around 2-3am. Some musicians don’t play it out of fear.

JUST THE FACTS: LISTENING EXAMPLE #1

ALAP MALKANS

A rag must be played perfectly in order to achieve its desired eff ect.

Rasa: The aff ective state generated by an aesthetic performance. In classical theory each rag (sometimes each tone) is thought to characterize, embody and generate particular emotional states ie love, anger, heroism.

Ragas are sometimes represented pictorially as individual human beings in miniature paintings called ragamalas.

MAGICAL RAGAS

RAGALASA EXAMPLES

Scale drawing:

RAG MAULKAN

Raga mian-ki-malhar which is associated with rain; and indeed, during the monsoon season, one commonly hears is performed, is said to have the power to bring rain.

Raga dipak is known more for its power to produce heat

Raga kedar could melt the prison bars and stone

Raga Maulkans attracts jinns

Healing: Any raga played correctly has the power to reduce fever.

RAGAS AND THEIR POWERS

Divide the class into those who know the notes on the piano or how to read music into one group, those who don’t know can pair up with those who do.

Think of a magic power or mood you wish you could achieve by simply listening to a song.

Write a scale which sounds like that characteristic.You may write the scale in letter names, you do not

need to use staff paper.

Use accidentals for flavor!

CFU: WRITE YOUR OWN RAGA

Write down the word that corresponds with the definition:

literally rag color or atmosphere; denotes a tonal system for the simultaneous composition and performance of music

CFU: WHITE BOARDS

simply plucks the four pitches successively throughout the raga, like aural incense

Q2

This raga is known more for its power to produce heat

Q3

A fretted, long-necked lute

Q4

This connotes abstinence, devotion, discipline and hard labor.

Q5

1. What is a tabla?

2. Name three elements of Riaz.

3. Which raga has the power to bring rain?

4. Define Ras:

5. What religious group immigrated to India and inspired the creation of the raga?

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