Hindustani Music
- Mainly practiced in the Northern parts of India.
- The forms of Hindustani classical music were designed primarily for vocal performance, and many instruments were designed and evaluated according to how well they emulate the human voice.
- Features
- The six primary ragas in Hindustani music are – Bhairava, Kausika, Hindola, Deepak, Sriraga and Megh.
- Ragas in Hindustani classical music strictly observe the time theory. Ex: Bhairavi at dawn, Megh in the morning.
- Ragas in Hindustani music are also associated with feelings and moods. Example: Bhairavi with awe and fear, Kausika with joy.
- It has a highly formalised grammar, dictated by textual as well as oral traditions.
- Hindustani music places more emphasis on improvisation and exploration of all aspects of a raga.
- Slow and sometimes even leisurely introductory section (alap) followed by solfege and fast section with fast melodic phrases and rhythmic play.
- There is a significant emphasis on space between the notes.
- Hindustani classical music has been influenced considerably by Persian traditions.
- Instruments – Musical instruments used in Hindustani are Tabla, Sarangi, Sitar, Santoor, Flute and violin.
Carnatic Music
- Carnatic music owes its name to the Sanskrit term Karnātaka Sangītam which denotes “traditional” or “codified” music.
- Features
- It is an indigenously developed style of classical music.
- The Melakarta scheme is a highly comprehensive and systematic formula which includes within its fold all the modes used in ancient as well as modern systems of music of the different parts of the world.
- It is strongly kriti-based.
- There is a unity of raga, tala and shruti in every piece.
- The system gives equal importance to melody and rhythm.
- Mixes the three degrees of speeds.
- Fewer instruments are used in Carnatic and there are no exclusively instrumental forms.
- There is an even balance between re-creativity (soulful interpretation of the compositions of great masters) and creativity (on the spot improvisations).
- Some of the important Carnatic music compositions are – Gitam, suladi, swarajathi, jatiswaram, varnam, keerthanam, kriti, padam, javali, pallavi etc.