Indian Ancient Music and Dance Part 1b

Summary

This lecture by Assistant Professor Shruti Karney explores ancient Indian music and dance, focusing on the role of musical instruments, including string, wind, and percussion types. The discussion delves into the spiritual significance of music and dance across various religions and practices like Bhajans, Sufi music, and yoga. It also highlights how music aids meditation, emotional balance, and mental health. Additionally, it touches on the societal role of music, its impact on education and personal development, and contemporary fusion styles, while acknowledging the struggles faced by modern artists.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The importance of musical instruments in Indian music is categorized into melodic expression (Raga), rhythmic foundation (Tala), and harmonic support (Shruti).
• 🎻 String instruments (Chordophones) like the sitar, veena, and sarangi play a key role in Indian music.
• 🎷 Wind instruments (Aerophones) such as the flute, clarinet, and saxophone are used in various styles, including classical, folk, and contemporary music.
• 🥁 Percussion instruments, divided into pitched (xylophone, kettle drums) and unpitched (snare drum, cymbals), produce sound when struck, shaken, or scraped.
• 🕊️ Instruments are essential in classical music, contributing to the expression of emotion, thematic development, and storytelling.
• 📜 Changes and advancements in musical instruments occur over time to meet the evolving needs of composers and musicians.
• 🕉️ Music and dance play a spiritual role across various religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, and Sufism, and are integral to prayers and meditation.
• 🧘‍♀️ In meditation, music facilitates relaxation, emotional healing, and deeper meditative practices, often enhanced by mantras and chanting.
• 💃 Dance, as a form of meditation, integrates physical movement with mental and emotional focus, aiding in mindfulness and personal growth.
• 🌍 Music and dance in society serve to celebrate milestones, foster communication, express emotions, and play a role in education, personal development, and cultural awareness.

Q & A

What is the role of musical instruments in Indian music?

Musical instruments in Indian music play a vital role in melodic expressions, rhythmic foundation, harmonic support, and drone. These are known as Raga, Tala, and Shruti in Marathi.

What are some examples of string instruments mentioned in the transcript?

The string instruments mentioned include the sitar, veena, sarod, sarangi, and tanpura (tambora in Marathi).

What are wind instruments, and which examples were provided?

Wind instruments, also known as aerophones, are used in classical, folk, devotional, and contemporary styles. Examples include the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone.

What distinguishes pitched percussion instruments from unpitched ones?

Pitched percussion instruments, like the xylophone and marimba, produce specific musical pitches. Unpitched percussion instruments, such as the snare drum and bongo drums, do not produce a definite pitch.

How have musical instruments evolved over time?

Musical instruments have evolved to meet the changing needs of composers and musicians, with advancements aimed at improving quality, playability, and adaptability for modern music.

How does music and dance play a role in spirituality across different religions?

Music and dance are integral to spirituality in many religions, such as bhajans and kirtans in Hinduism, hymns in Christianity, and Sufi music in Islam. These forms of music express devotion and spiritual connection.

What is the significance of mantras in music and meditation?

Mantras are powerful tools in music and meditation, influencing both the mind and body through vibrational energy. They help in focusing the mind, reducing stress, and improving emotional balance.

What is 'Rasa,' and why is it important in dance?

Rasa refers to the emotional essence or flavor of a dance, essential for conveying emotions and deepening the audience's connection to the performance.

How does music and dance impact mental health?

Music and dance positively impact mental health by reducing stress, improving mood, aiding in cognitive development, and fostering social connections and mindfulness.

What challenges do contemporary artists face in the music and dance industries?

Contemporary artists face challenges such as financial insecurity, lack of recognition, mental health struggles, and balancing artistic expression with market demands.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Introduction to Musical Instruments

The speaker, Shuti Karney, an assistant professor at Dr. DY Patil College in Pune, introduces the sixth topic of the course—musical instruments. Various types of instruments are discussed, including string, wind, and percussion instruments. The importance of these instruments in Indian music is emphasized, including their roles in melodic expression (Raga), rhythmic foundation (Tala), and harmonic support (Shruti). Different instruments such as the sitar, flute, xylophone, and drums are introduced with brief explanations of their functions and types.

05:00

🎵 Spirituality in Music and Dance

The seventh topic covers the role of music and dance in spirituality. The speaker highlights how different religions, including Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, use music and dance as forms of devotion and prayer. Examples include bhajans, chants, and Sufi music. The connection between sound, vibrations, and consciousness is explained, particularly through the concept of Nada Yoga, which links music to spiritual practices. Devotional songs and their impact on emotions and spiritual connection are discussed, focusing on various cultural and religious contexts.

10:01

🧘‍♀️ Music and Dance in Meditation

The eighth topic explores the connection between music, dance, and meditation. Music is described as an important tool for facilitating relaxation, deepening emotional experiences, and guiding meditation practices. Mantras are introduced as powerful tools in both music and meditation, with their Sanskrit roots explained. Chanting is also discussed as a method to reduce stress, improve emotional balance, and enhance concentration. The concept of 'rasa,' or emotional essence, in dance is highlighted, along with the role of dance as a form of meditation.

15:03

💃 Music, Dance, and Society

This section examines the role of music and dance in society, including their significance in social ceremonies, rituals, and personal development. The impact on education and physical, emotional, and cognitive development is discussed. Music and dance also play a crucial role in fostering cultural awareness, confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The speaker discusses the mental health benefits of music, such as stress reduction and mood improvement, and emphasizes how music and dance shape popular culture and Bollywood, influencing entertainment, social media, and cross-cultural exchanges.

Keywords

💡Raga

A 'Raga' refers to a melodic framework used in Indian classical music. It plays a crucial role in expressing emotions and creating mood through specific patterns of notes. In the video, it is mentioned as part of the importance of musical instruments for melodic expression in Indian music.

💡Tala

Tala is the rhythmic foundation in Indian classical music. It represents a time cycle or rhythm pattern, integral to the structure of music and dance. The video highlights its importance in maintaining rhythm and timing in both musical and dance performances.

💡Shruti

Shruti, in Indian music, refers to the smallest interval of pitch that the human ear can detect. It serves as the harmonic support or drone in Indian classical music, creating a continuous sound that complements the main melody. The video mentions it as an essential component of Indian music alongside Raga and Tala.

💡String Instruments

String instruments, also known as chordophones, produce sound through vibrating strings. Examples from the video include sitar, veena, sarangi, and tanpura. These instruments are central to many traditional forms of Indian music, providing melody and harmony.

💡Wind Instruments

Wind instruments, or aerophones, produce sound when air is blown through them. In the video, instruments like the flute, clarinet, and saxophone are mentioned, showcasing their role in classical, folk, and devotional music traditions.

💡Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments are played by striking, shaking, or scraping to produce sound. They can be categorized into pitched (e.g., xylophone, marimba) and unpitched instruments (e.g., snare drum, bass drum). The video emphasizes their importance in generating rhythm and supporting musical compositions.

💡Bhajans

Bhajans are devotional songs in Hinduism that express devotion and praise towards the divine. The video presents them as a form of prayer through music, often used in religious practices to create a spiritual connection with the divine.

💡Sufi Music

Sufi music is a form of Islamic devotional music that reflects the mystical traditions of Sufism, often involving dance and music as expressions of divine love. The video describes it as a spiritual practice that connects devotees to God through rhythmic movement and chanting.

💡Nad Yoga

Nad Yoga, also known as the Yoga of Sound, is a meditative practice that uses sound vibrations to influence consciousness and emotional states. The video emphasizes its role in spirituality, explaining how sound can enhance meditation and bring about mental and physical harmony.

💡Mantras

Mantras are sacred sounds or phrases used in meditation and spiritual practices. The video explains that mantras have vibrational power and are important tools in meditation, dance, and music for focusing the mind and fostering emotional balance.

Highlights

Introduction to ancient music and dance with an overview of five topics already covered.

Discussion of the sixth topic: Musical Instruments, their role in Indian music, and classifications like string, wind, and percussion instruments.

The importance of instruments in Indian music for melodic expression (Raga), rhythmic foundation (Tala), and harmonic support (Shruti).

Detailed explanation of string instruments (Chordophones) like sitar, veena, sarod, sarangi, and tanpura.

Overview of wind instruments (Aerophones) such as flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone, used across various music styles.

Percussion instruments are introduced, including the classification into pitched (e.g., xylophone, marimba) and unpitched instruments (e.g., snare drum, bongo drums).

Role of instruments in classical music, emphasizing their importance for emotional expression, storytelling, and thematic development.

Advancements in musical instruments over time to meet the evolving needs of composers and musicians, enhancing playability and sound quality.

Introduction to the role of music and dance in spirituality, with examples from Hinduism, Christianity, Sufism, and Buddhism.

Explanation of the concept of 'Nad Yoga' (Yoga of Sound), where every sound creates vibrations that affect consciousness, emotions, and physical states.

The significance of mantras in meditation and music, emphasizing their vibrational power and role in emotional and mental focus.

Discussion on the role of music and dance in society, especially in social ceremonies, fostering emotional expression and ritual practices.

The impact of music and dance on education and personal development, including cognitive growth, emotional regulation, and cultural awareness.

Exploration of the impact of music on mental health, highlighting stress reduction, mood improvement, and therapeutic uses.

Introduction to fusion styles in music and dance, including jazz, hip-hop, classical, and Bollywood fusion, creating new forms of artistic expression.

Transcripts

[Music]

my dear students myself shuti karney

assistant professor in Dr Dy patil Arts

Commerce and science College pimpi Pune

so already we have learned the five

topics which is related to the ancient

music and dance so today we will start

from the topic number number six that is

the musical instruments so there are so

many music instruments are available

according to the type of music and type

of dance so some music instruments are

listed here so the importance of

instruments in Indian music that is for

melodic Expressions which is called as

Raga then rhythmic Foundation which is

called as the tala and for the harmonic

support and the Drone which is called as

shuti in marati so there are different

types of instruments are available like

string instruments wind instruments then

prehistorical instruments then we will

start from the string instruments which

is also called as the cord phones so the

string instruments include sitar sod

Vina sanur sarangi and the tanpura which

is called as Tambora in marati so this

is the list of some string instruments

which is used in different types of

musics then next one is the wind

instruments which is called as the AO

phones so wind instruments which is

related to the aerop phones so which is

used for including classical folk

devotional and contemporary Styles so

some examples are listed here so the

flute clarinet oboi bassoon and the

saxophone these are the wind instruments

which is used for the different

different music and dance styles then

next one it is the percusion instruments

very interesting topic and new for all

of us so percusion instruments which is

used for produce sound when they are

struck shaken or scrapped so they will

produce the sound when you can Struck it

when you can shake it or when you can

scrap it so it will produce the

different types of sounds so the

well-known examples of this are included

with their types so there are two types

of included that is peached instruments

and un peached instruments so first we

will start from the peached instruments

so the examples of peach instruments are

xylophone marimba then next one vione

and Tani which is also called as the

kettle drums so this is the examples of

percu instruments which are the peached

instruments then next one that is the UN

peached percu instruments so the

well-known examples are snare drum bass

drum symbols triangle and bongo drums so

these are the examples of uned percusion

instruments so their role is listed here

then next one it is the role of

instruments in a classical music without

instruments classical music is

incomplete so there are different

different roles are listed so we will

see someone that is expression of

emotion and the character so you have to

express something or you have to publish

some characters so you need the

instruments there and also development

of Melody and Harmony also also it is

used for storytelling and thematic

development also that's why instruments

play a very vital role in a music and

basically in a classical music next one

it is the changes and advancements in a

instruments over time so there are

different types of changes and

developments are done with the help of

periods why it is done so advancements

needs to adapt the different types of

need of composers and musicians because

composers and musicians need Advanced

instruments according to that we have to

change and make advancements in

instruments for better quality better

playability and improve their quality we

need to do the changes and advancements

in instruments over a time also the next

one it is the topic number seven that is

the role of music and dance in

spirituality so as we all know we have

the B and sadh towards the god which is

related to the spirituality and which we

can do with the help of Music and Dance

also so the introduction to the music

and spirituality so it is basically

related to the hymns of Christian itri

then next one it is the bhajans from

Hinduism zikar CHS from the Sufi musics

and contemplative rhythms from the

Buddhism so all have their different

different forms of prayer with the help

of music and dance so they are listed

here in the topic number seven that is

role of music and dance in a

spirituality then next one it is the

music in Hinduism and other religions so

different different communities develop

their music and dance with the help of

their prayers and spirituality so the

some examples are bajans and krans in

Hinduism also the Vic CHS in Hinduism

next one it is the hints and the slams

in a Christian Community then Nashid and

kalies in a Muslim Community also it is

related to the Sufi music and Chun which

can develop their prayers with the help

of Music which is related to the

different different region

so this is about the music in Hinduism

and different

religions then next one it is the NAD

yoga The Yoga of sound so as we all know

meditation and yoga which is very

important for the our nourishment and

our fulfillment so according to this

philosophy every sound creates a

vibration remember that every sound

creates a vibration and which vibration

can affect our Consciousness our

emotions and physical States also that's

why music is also very important when

you are doing any type of yoga or when

you are doing the any type of meditation

so it will help you for soul your mind

and also fulfillment of your emotions

also then next one it is the bajans and

krans which is also called as the

devotional songs so we can say it as a

one type of prayer for the bti and sadh

towards the god which will be done with

the help of Bhajan and K so it is

includes a praise prayers stories and

about different different divines also

then next one it is the Kiran so Kiran

is experience of worship with the help

of music so with the help of music you

can do the Bajan you can do the Kon

which is related to the devotional songs

then next one it is the Sufi music which

is also one type of sadhana or biti

towards the god which is part to the

Divine love Okay so which is related to

the dimension of Islam they pray with

the help of dance and music with the

help of this Sufi music then dance as a

spiritual practice so we use dance as a

spiritual practice for our inner

fulfillment to control our emotions and

so many things there are so expression

of the Divine we use dance then next one

it is the meditative and transformative

dance also which is for cultural and

symbiotic significance also so dance

also play a very important role in a

spiritual practices with the help of the

Sufi music or the Sufi movements then

next one it is the topic number eight

that is music and dance in a meditation

so already I have told you that the

meditation or the yoga with the help of

music is very important for our

fulfillness and for our mood freshness

okay so we will see the music and dance

in a meditation so introduction to the

music and meditation so why music music

is used in a meditation which is very

important so we will see that for

felicitating the relaxation so when we

hear the different types of music our

mood swings or the mood gate relaxes

that's why we use the meditation for

music the next one it is the deeping

emotional experience so for emotional

experience we also use the meditation

with the help of Music also then next

one for guiding the meditation practices

so meditation practices we have to run

with the help of this music music and

with the help of this meditation and

yoga the mantras are very important to

play the any type of music or any type

of dance so first of all we will see the

power of mantras so mantras it is the

Sanskrit word which is Manus related to

the mind and next one is the tra which

is the instrument or the tool so it is

related to the music and the instruments

which show a very great power in a music

and dance also which have a vibrational

power also which have a focus inions

also that's why the mantras are very

important in music and dance also so

this is about the power of mantras and

the dance in meditation why it is used

basically so this is then next one it is

the chanting and its effect on mind and

body so enhanced focus and for the

concentration we use anytime the for

focus and concentration different types

of music different types of instruments

to fulfill our mind with a fresh mood

also the next one is a reduce stress and

anxy so nowadays so many peoples are

doing their stress and anxxiety to get

relaxation we use different types of

chunts music and dance forms for

relaxation also improved emotional

balance which is very important when you

are doing any type of work when you are

doing study so to improve your emotional

balance there is importance of chanting

in a music and dance also then next one

it is the concept of rasa so what is

mean by rasa so rasa is called as the

emotional Essence in a dance that is

called as the rasa so emotional Essence

so when you are performing any type of

dance or any type of music rasa is very

important that is the emotional essense

of your dance so let's move ahead that

is the dance as a form of meditation so

it is integrates the physical movement

of dance also with the mental and

emotional practices of our Med

meditation so meditation with the help

of dance is also very important for our

fulfillment then next one it is the

Contemporary practices so this is the

one type of dance form that is the

Contemporary practices which is

integrates the MS with mindfulness also

emotional healing also for our

fulfillment and personal growth that's

why the Contemporary practices are also

very important and which will also

helpful for the selfawareness because

there is so many physical directions are

there that's why contemporary practices

are also very important then topic

number nine that is the role of music

and dance in a society so if you are

celebrating any type of function if you

are celebrating any ritual so there is a

need of Music and Dance also so the role

of Music in dance and Society what is it

so music and dance in a social

ceremonies play that is celebrate and

mark the Milestones which is for our

enjoyment then Foster communic bonding

also express emotions of the that dance

and music and last one it is the guide

the different types of rituals that's

why the music play a very important role

in a music and dance related to the

society then next it is the role in

education and personal development so

what is the role of music and dance in a

personal development so it will help you

for cognitive development also emotional

expression and regulation so it is very

important for emotional expression with

the help of music and with the help of

dance also then next one it is also

helpful for the physical development so

with the help of different different D

Dance forms you can improve your

physical development also then next one

it is helpful for cultural awareness so

according to the culture Community it is

discovered in a region different by

community so it is helpful for the

cultural awareness also then next one it

is the confidence and self assessment

also so with the stage daring you can do

this also that is the confidence and

self assessment also then last it is the

creativity and problem solving so with

the help of dance and music you can do

this also that is creativity and the

problem solving that's why the music and

dance play a very important role in

education and the personal

development then next one it is the

impact on a mental health so music play

a very important uh role in a balancing

your mental health by playing a

different types of song different types

of musics and so on so the impact of

mental health that is the stress

reduction which is very important by

playing the different types of music and

songs you can manage your stress and

stress reduction also then which is also

important for your mood Improvement then

next one it is the cognitive benefits it

will also provide to you for a social

connection for therapetic uses also and

for for mindfulness and relaxation so

impact on a mental health is very

important with the help of music and

with the help of dance okay let's move

ahead that is the influence on popular

culture and Bollywood so first we will

see about the popular culture so it is

useful for the entertainment it is

useful for the social media it is useful

for the advertisement and branding also

which is for the popularity basically

and also crosscultural exchanges also so

it influen the popular culture with the

help of entertainment advertisement and

branding this is about the popular

culture then next one it is the

Bollywood so with related to the

Bollywood it is for the storytelling it

is for the cultural representation it is

for the star power then it is for the

fan management and last one it is for

the economic impact so basically music

is also and dance is also related to the

employment and economic develop vment of

our country so this is about the popular

and Bollywood then next one it is the

Contemporary Fusion Styles so Music

Fusion styles are different different so

World Music Fusion jazz music Fusion

hipop Music Fusion and classical Fusion

then rage Fusion so many dance forms are

mixed together to create the fusion

that's why there are different different

forms are created like jazz fusion World

Music Fusion rage Fusion hip hop fusion

with the classical music then next one

it is the Dance Fusion Styles so there

are hip-hop fusion bollyw fusion Latin

Fusion so many dance forms are mixed

together to create a new form so this is

related to The Music Fusion Styles and

Dance Fusion Styles then next one it is

the status and struggles of artists so

nowadays we are seeing that the artist

are doing very hard struggle why they

are doing very hard struggle so so many

points are listed here so see that is

the financial insecurity the next one

lack of recognition also the mental

health market demand which is very

important market demand is very

important when you are performing any

type of dance or any type of music also

balancing art and commerce with each

other so there is a balance also

important your mental health also

important and lack of recognition which

will do the helping your status of

struggles of the art artist nowadays so

this is about the status of your

struggles in artists then next one we

have done with this our 10 topics which

is related to the ancient Indian music

and dance so thank you my dear students