Chapter 8 India India Located in South Asia Ethnic Linguistic and Religious Diversity 1 6 billion people large population Capital at Delphi Linguistic Diversity over 100 languages with 1 652 dialects Religions include Hinduism Buddhism Islam Jainism and Christianity Diversity is mainly due to the interconnections with the Middle East and other parts of Asia through trade routes Major trade routes go through India and lead to cultural interaction particularly in the Northern part of India There are difference between North and South India in terms of cultural interaction as well as musical differences 2nd most populous country in the world 17 of the world s population Differences between North and South India in regards to music culture and religion Why do these differences exist Religion Hinduism The Vedas Vedia Appears polytheistic multiple gods but is really monotheistic one god Caste System defines society Spiritual religion The majority faith in India Recognizes many gods Cherishes religious images Promotes vegetarianism The circle is the most important shape circle sphere cycle etc Written in 1100 1800 BCE South Asia Hindu religious text Sacred hymns poetic descriptions of gods and nature rituals and blessings Ancient seminal Hindu scriptures in the Sanskrit language are believed by Hindus to be of divine origin Orally transmitted in the form of Vedic chant 4 sacred books of Hinduism 1 Rig Veda 2 Sama Veda collections of chants that are sung by priests 3 Yajur Veda 4 Atharva Veda Vocal tradition Bhajan 1 Brahmins A particular class of Hindu devotional songs and hymns with close ties to the historical development of Indian classical music The religious leaders priests who memorized the Vedas and orally transmit it Hearing the Vedas is considered auspicious due to the context of being the word of the gods It is an important occasion to hear the Vedas Nada Brahma Brahman The sound of god The divine source of all sound speech and music Similar to Tarab in Egyptian music The main god of Hinduism This god can be reincarnated into many forms particularly 1 Vishnu Death 2 Brahma Birth 3 Shiva Rebirth The reincarnation of Brahman represents a cycle Karma is an action and reaction of all events Shiva Hindu god destroyer Rebirth Ganesha Hindu god Remover of obstacles similar to Saint Antony in Catholicism Patron of arts and sciences Deity of intellect and wisdom Depicted as an elephant form 2 Vishnu Hindu god Protector Death Has 4 arms Holds a conch shell a symbol of power to create and maintain the universe The Chakra a purified spiritualized mind Mace Vishnu s power is the source of all spiritual physical and mental strength The Lotus spiritual liberation divine perfection and the unfolding of the spiritual consciousness in the individual The Caste System Social hierarchy in India that is defined by Hinduism Social stratification Was not originally hierarchical according to Rig Veda No group was better than the other All groups had a purpose Those who did not fulfill their duties became outcasts Considered fair due to rebirth concept 3 1947 concept of untouchables is abolished Men and women are required to marry in the same caste Ascribed versus achieved status it is hard for the Dalit to move between classes and they pretty much stay in the class they are born but Vaishyas can move between classes and achieve status In order from highest class to lowest class 1 Brahmins priests and teachers purity twice born 2 Kshatriyas warriors and rulers twice born 3 Vaishyas farmers merchants artisans etc twice born 4 Shudras laborers common folk 5 Dalit untouchable polluted laborers cobblers chimney sweets lepers subordinate to all other classes Society was pretty much distinguished between Brahmin and non Brahmin Brahmin men were sought after as musicians Men were known for composing and singing in Carnatic history Brahmin men did not play aerophones or membranophones because of the animal skin Brahmin men wrote the history for Carnatic music 1930 Brahmin women became acceptable musicians Beforehand women musicians were devadasis Devadasis 9th 19th century female performers Servants of deity Married to a particular temple god Performed dance and music in service to the temple These women had a higher level of education than women of a higher class status Were considered indispensable for religious ceremonies Prominent artists performed in the court systems Performed dace dance music and more structured music with less improvisation The temple financially supported them until the decline of the court system British came to power and courts no longer financially supported devadasi s so their role declined due to lack of money Music moved from the courts to the public sphere Women turned to prostitution When India gained independence in 1947 the devadasi tradition was banned because holy women had become associated with prostitution Decline of the Court System Buddhism The Chinese tried to control the Tibet Buddhists The Dalai Lama was exiled from Tibet to India The Dalai Lama says there are no differences on a human level He was interested in geography since WWII He has great respect for President Hoover 4 He respects all people and Buddhists do not believe in the Caste System which is a big difference between Hinduism and Buddhism Hindustani Raga Music in North India Tradition of Indian Classical Music Builds from raga Singing is regarded as the highest form of musical expression Greater influence from Islamic cultures Sitar tambura and tabla instrumental trio common More international exposure and recognition outside of India Normal Northern Indian setting 1 One singer predominantly male 2 One melodic accompaniment instrument 3 One percussion instrument 4 One drone Raga melody Highly complex and elaborate melodic system Employs systems of rhythm and meter known as Tala time Deeply seeded in the spiritual and cultural traditions of Hinduism In Indian classical music a complete and self contained system that serves as a basis for all of the melodic materials in any composition or performance created in that Raga Raga has precise melody forms It is not a scale It is not a mode Each Raga has its own ascending and descending melodic movements Ragas have the presence of microtones aka quarter tones Ragas stress particular notes Traditionally Ragas can last a couple of hours and are typically an experience to listen to No Raga will be performd the same way twice Distinctive features 1 An
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