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Indian Art & Culture

Hindustani classical music

Art music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent

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Overview

Hindustani classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It is played on instruments like the veena, sitar and sarod. It diverged in the 12th-century from Carnatic music, the classical tradition of southern India. While Carnatic music largely uses compositions written in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, Hindustani music largely uses compositions written in Sanskrit, Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu), Braj, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Bengali, Rajasthani languages, Punjabi and even Persian.

Source: Wikipedia — Hindustani classical music (CC BY-SA)

Key concepts

How Hindustani classical music connects to the ideas, people and events around it.

  1. Raga

    uses

    A raga is a melodic framework for improvisation and composition in Hindustani music, defined by specific ascending and descending note patterns. Each raga is associated with particular moods, times of day, or seasons.

  2. Tala

    structured by

    Tala refers to the rhythmic cycle that underpins performances in Hindustani music, ranging from simple four-beat cycles to complex fourteen-beat patterns. The tabla duo commonly articulates tala during concerts.

  3. Guru–shishya tradition

    preserves through

    The guru–shishya tradition is the apprenticeship system through which knowledge of Hindustani music is transmitted from master to disciple. It emphasizes oral learning, long-term mentorship, and personal devotion.

  4. Gharana

    organized in

    A gharana is a stylistic school or lineage in Hindustani music, each with distinctive approaches to raga interpretation and ornamentation. Notable gharanas include the Maihar, Kirana, and Patiala schools.

  5. Tabla

    accompanied by

    The tabla is a pair of hand‑drummed percussion instruments that provide the primary rhythmic accompaniment in Hindustani performances. It was standardized in the 18th century by the Delhi gharana of tabla makers.

  6. Bhatkhande Music College

    taught at

    Bhatkhande Music College, founded in 1926 in Lucknow, was the first institution to formalize the teaching of Hindustani classical music. It introduced a graded syllabus and standardized notation for ragas and talas.

  7. Ravi Shankar

    exemplified by

    Ravi Shankar (1920–2012) was a sitar virtuoso who popularized Hindustani classical music worldwide through concerts and collaborations with Western musicians. He won multiple Grammy Awards and performed at the 1969 Woodstock Festival.

  8. Delhi

    centered in

    Delhi has been a historic centre for Hindustani music, hosting royal courts and later the All India Radio headquarters that broadcast performances. The city is home to several prominent gharanas and music festivals.

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Questions about Hindustani classical music

What is Hindustani classical music?

Hindustani classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It is played on instruments like the veena, sitar and sarod. It diverged in the 12th-century from Carnatic music, the classical tradition of southern India.

What are the key concepts related to Hindustani classical music?

The main concepts connected to Hindustani classical music include Raga, Tala, Guru–shishya tradition, Gharana, Tabla, Bhatkhande Music College, Ravi Shankar, Delhi. Each is linked on the map above with its own summary.

Which exams cover Hindustani classical music?

Hindustani classical music is part of Indian Art & Culture, which appears in the syllabus of UPSC CSE, UPSC CAPF, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC GD and 41 more exams.