2b Learning About Ragas

G C S E M U S I C – R H Y T H M S O F T H E W O R L D – I N D I A N C L A S S I C A L M U S I C W 2
LEARNING ABOUT
RAGAS
Learning Objectives
Learn about the two different meanings of the word raga in Indian music
Learn how a raga scale is used in Indian ragas and how ragas have different moods
Learn about the notes of an Indian raga scale and how Indian music notation is used
P A G E | 1 © W W W . M U S I C A L C O N T E X T S . C O . U K
Look back to the transcription of the alap in Raga Madhmad Sarang on page 1. Make a note of all
the pitches used in the box below (ignore the two “D” pitches, which are merely melodic
decoration!)
Then write out the scale, on the blank stave, used for the melody and identify the intervals
between the notes of the scale (use tone and semitone; for larger intervals add the two together).
Keep in mind that B flat is the first degree of the scale.
Most Western music is based on the major and minor scales, and the pattern of intervals between
the notes of each scale is always the same. Western musicians have to learn which sharps or
flats are needed in the key signature of each scale to make it sound correct.
Indian music is based on ragas. A raga is a cross between a SCALE or MODE and a MELODY.
Each raga has very strict rules about which notes may be used, and how they may be used. Even
the decorations and ornaments, which are a very important part of Indian music, must be played in
accordance with the rules of the raga. Decorations help to set the mood which each raga has to
express.
All ragas are associated with a particular time of day or night, when they should be performed and
many are names after gods or goddesses and express their temperaments and characteristics.
Some ragas vary in ascent and descent.
Listen to the following three examples,

based on the notes of the raga scales
shown on the next page. First, you’ll
hear the notes of the raga together
with their DRONE notes, followed by a
short example of a piece of Indian
music based on each of the raga
scales.
Indian musicians have a special system for writing down their music, a form of NOTATION, using
names of the scale to write a melody called SARGAM. The names of the scale are:
sa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa
S R G M P D N S
This is how three octaves would be written:
Most of the melody would be played or sung in the middle octave. Singers often use the sargam
names for vocal improvisations and teachers often sing a phrase in sargam for their pupils to sing
or play. A line given ABOVE the note name (or abbreviated letter) shows this note should be
SHARPENED and a line given BELOW the note name shows this note should be FLATTENED.
Simple rhythms can be notated within the sargam system. Each beat is called a matra and curved
lines are placed under the sargam letters to show which notes are grouped together within a single
beat.
Take C as sa and re-write this melody from Indian notation in staff notation using the blank stave
provided.
CREATING YOUR
OWN RAGA SCALE
Using the notes below, compose your own Indian raga scale. Choose 5-10 notes and play them in
the order as shown below. Do not play the notes in your scale more than once. Use the diagram
of the keyboard to help you create your own raga scale and select two notes which could be used
as DRONE notes and give your own raga scale a name and suitable mood.
C Db D Eb E F F# G Ab A Bb B c
DRONE NOTES &
LEARNING ABOUT
RAGAS
Learning Objectives
Learn about the two different meanings of the word raga in Indian music
Learn how a raga scale is used in Indian ragas and how ragas have different moods
Learn about the notes of an Indian raga scale and how Indian music notation is used
Resources:
ROTWICMW2 – Learning about Ragas (pages 1-4)
ROTWICMA6 - Raga Madhmad Sarang, alap, Veena Sahasrabuddhe (voice)
Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Raga Madhmad Sarang and Bhajan Navras
ROTWICMA7 – Raga scale for Raga Madhmad Sarang
ROTWICMA8 – Raga Vibhas Raga scale and example
ROTWICMA9 – Raga Behag Raga scale and example
ROTWICMA10 – Raga Malakosh Raga scale and example
ROTWICMA11 – Indian Music Notation
ROTWICMA12 – Indian Music Notation Example
Keyboards and/or melodic chromatic percussion instruments/own instruments for the
performance and composition of Indian Raga scales
Time Guidance – 50-60 minutes
Begin by explaining that that Indian ragas as based on a raga scale. Establish the two meanings
of the word raga clearly:
 A group of notes, rather like a scale, on which the melody, harmony and tonality of Indian
music is based.
 The actual “piece” of Indian music made up of number of different sections
Explain that pupils will be focusing on the raga scale and ask pupils to look at the score of the opening
alap section of Raga Madhmad Sarang on page 1. Play ROTWICMA6 a couple of times allowing
pupils to follow the score through as they listen. Teachers may like to stop the audio track at various
points to ensure pupils are following accurately.
Then, ask pupils to make a note of all the different pitches used in the box on page 2 - (ignoring the
two “D” pitches, which are merely melodic decoration!).
Next, ask pupils to write out the scale, on the blank stave given, and identify the intervals between
the notes of the scales using the words TONE and SEMITONE, or the abbreviations “T” and “S”
adding the two together to describe larger intervals. Inform pupils that the B flat is the first degree
of the scale.
The correct analysis will result in the following raga scale which is demonstrated on ROTWICMA7
Note it’s PENTATONIC!
Explain to pupils that the raga scale can be termed a type of MODE and that different ragas are
often associated with particular moods. Raga Madhmad Sarang, for instance, is associated with
the time of midday, when it is supposed to be performed.
Look at the other three ragas given on page 3, each given with their ascending and descending
forms (which are sometimes different), their DRONE notes and their associated mood. Either
allow pupils to perform these ragas in pairs, with one pupil performing the drone notes on a
suitable TIMBRE or instrument and the other performing the melody, or listen to the examples on
ROTWICMA8, ROTWICMA9 and ROTWICMA10 which feature the notes of the raga scale
followed by a short example of a piece of traditional Indian music based on each of the ragas, to
illustrate the different moods associated with each.
Using page 3, introduce pupils to the names of the notes in an Indian scale called SARGAM – sa,
ri, ga, ma, pa, dha, ni, sa and how dots are used under the note name to indicate an lower octave
and a dot above to indicate a higher octave. Explain the use of lines above and under the notes to
indicate sharp and flat pitches and look at the example of how Indian notation matches that of staff
notation using ROTWICMA11 to demonstrate the example given.
Next, allow pupils to use the SARGAM notation to rewrite the short melody in staff notation on the
blank stave provided. The answer is given below as well as being illustrated on ROTWICMA12.
The final activity, at the bottom of page 4, asks pupils to create their own Indian raga scale. Pupils
are advised to use between 5-10 notes playing them in the order given and not using the notes in
their raga scales more than once. A diagram of a keyboard has been provided to assist pupils
who should attempt writing out the ascending and descending versions of their raga scales using
staff notation where possible. Pupils are then asked to work out suitable DRONE notes and give
their raga scale a name/title and a suitable mood. This activity could be set as a practical
homework with pupils performing their raga scales to the rest of the class on suitable instruments
during the following lesson. Pupils could work in pairs with one pupil performing the drone notes
and the other pupils improvising on the notes of their own raga scale in the style of an alap section
of a raga performance. Pupils could be extended by composing/improvising their own 8-bar
melodies, based on the notes of their raga scale to one or more of the following rhythms:
Homework Suggestions
Pupils could be asked to summarise the key musical features of Indian classical music under the
four headings of: harmony, tonality, melody and texture.
Pupils could also be asked to write down two different meanings of the word raga which they have
learned about either as dictionary definitions or as a poster for display purposes. ROTWICMSP4
gives a suitable “Twitter” template for pupils to create their own “Tweet” to define the two different
meaning of the word raga.

2b Learning About Ragas

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

2b Learning About Ragas

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

G C S E M U S I C – R H Y T H M S O F T H E W O R L D – I N D I A N C L A S S I C A L M U S I C W 2

Listen to the following three examples,

This is how three octaves would be written:

DRONE NOTES &

Time Guidance – 50-60 minutes

S-ar putea să vă placă și