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Home / IAS Preparation / Music In Modern India

Music In Modern India: Hindustani Music, Carnatic Music, Developments In Music In Modern India And More!

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Music in modern India has witnessed remarkable growth and evolution. Music in modern India encompasses a wide array of genres and styles, reflecting the country's cultural diversity. With the advent of technology and globalisation, Music in modern India has become more accessible than ever before. 

Aspirants attempting UPSC IAS exam - particularly the UPSC History Optional paper - and UGC NET History Exam should study music in modern India in depth as questions relating to this regularly appear. Thorough knowledge of this topic equips candidates to tackle such queries effectively and score high marks.

Hindustani Modern Classical Music In India

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Hindustani music experienced rapid growth. The origins of Hindustani classical music can be attributed to Amir Khusrau (AD 1253–1325), who promoted the practice of musical performance using specific instruments during the Delhi Sultanate era. He is credited with creating the sitar and the tabla and with introducing new ragas. The majority of Hindustani musicians may trace their lineage back to Tansen. 

  • The Hindustani musical genres include Dhrupad, Dhamar, Thumri, Khayal, and Tappa. According to legend, Tansen's music had a magical impact. He had the power to stop the Yamuna's rising waves and to make it rain by using the force of his "Megh Rag." 
  • In fact, his melodic tunes are being sung throughout India today with a lot of enthusiasm. Baiju Bawra, Surdas, and other musicians were paid well by some of Akbar's courtiers.
  • Bahar, Bhairavi, Sindhu Bhairavi, Bhim Palasi, Darbari, Desh, Hamsadhwani, Jai Jayanti, Megha Malhar, Todi, Yaman, Pilu, Shyam Kalyan, and Khambaj are the most well-known ragas.
  • India is home to a wide range of musical instruments of various kinds. The most well-known stringed instruments are the sitar, sarod, santoor, and sarangi. Pakhawaj, tabla, and mridangam are instruments that provide percussion or tal. Flute, shehnai, and nadaswaram are a few of the most popular wind instruments.
  • Performers of Hindustani classical music are typically associated with a gharana or specific musical school. Gharanas are inherited groups of musicians that define a certain musical style and distinguish them apart from one another. The gharanas function according to the principle of gurushishya parampara, which states that students who study under one guru and carry on their musical expertise and fashion would be considered to be a part of the same Gharana. A few well-known gharanas are Gwalior, Kirana, and Jaipur.
  • Devotional music has a distinct role in Indian music, including kirtan, bhajan, and ragas from the Adi Granth and singing in the Majlis during Muharram. In addition to this, folk music exhibits a very deep cultural past.

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Carnatic Music

Three composers who lived between AD 1700 and 1850 are jointly responsible for the compositions of Carnatic music. 

  • They were Mutthuswami Dikshitar, Thyagaraja, and Shyam Shastri. Another outstanding Carnatic music composer was Purandardasa.
  • Thyagaraja, who embodies the spirit of Carnatic music, is respected as a saint and an artist. The primary works referred to as kriti, are devotional in nature. The three talented musicians explored various genres. Maha Vaidyanath Ayyar (1844–1893), Patnam Subrahmanya Ayyar (1854–1902), and Ramnad Srinivasa Lyengar (1860–1919) are three prominent musicians from this era. 
  • Some of the instruments used to accompany Carnatic music include the flute, veena, nadaswaram, mridangam, and ghatam.

Modern Music

Western music became popular under British control. To meet the needs of Indian music, Indians adopted several of their instruments, including the violin and clarinet. On-stage orchestration of music is a recent innovation. The oral transmission of songs and ragas was replaced by the use of cassettes.

Thousands of music enthusiasts across the nation can now see performances that were previously only accessible to a select few through public openings. The master-disciple system is no longer necessary for the transmission of music instruction; instead, institutions that teach music can do it.

Developments In Music In Modern India

Thumri, a style of romantic music, rose to prominence in Hindustani music throughout the 19th century.

  • Early 20th-century musicians Vishnu Digambar Palushkar and Vishnu Narayana Bathkande made significant contributions to Hindustani music. In an effort to free music from the influence of Gharana, Pandit Vishnu Digambar Palushkar founded the Gandharv Mahavidyalya in 1901. 
  • Gandhiji held Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, a famous Ramdhun, in the highest regard. The first public concert in Saurashtra is credited to him because, at the time, music was solely performed in temples and royal residences. 
    • His Gandhrava Mahavidyalaya was one of the first in India to operate on contributions and public support rather than royal sponsorship, and it was accessible to everybody.
  • Similarly to this, Marris College of Music was founded in Lucknow by Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. He was the first to introduce a structured musical system that reflected modern performing techniques. 
    • He authored the original contemporary study of Hindustani Classical Music. He is most well known for reclassifying the Indian ragas. The ragas have so far been divided into three categories: raga (male), Ragini (female), and putra (children). 
    • All of the current gharanas were divided into ten thaats by Bhatkhande, who classed them according to the Thaat system in use today.
  • Rabindranath Tagore and his Rabindra Sangeet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Subramaniam Bharti, and others who produced patriotic poems during the liberation fight are credited with later advancements in Indian music.
  • The spread of music is currently being done by numerous institutions in the south, including Kathak Kendra, Gandharva Maha-Vidyalaya, Indira Kala Vishwa Vidyalaya of Khairagarh, and Sangeet Natak Academy.

Modern Music In India: Musicians

Let us have a look at the main personalities of music in modern India.

Ali Akbar Khan (b.1922) 

He is among the all-time best Sarod players. He is also skilled at playing the Pakhawaj and Tabla, among other instruments. 

  • Ali Akbar Khan, who is well-known for his musical versatility, learned the dhrupad, dhammar, and khayal genres from his father, Ustad Allauddin Khan. At the age of thirteen, Ali Akbar Khan performed in front of an audience for the first time in Allahabad. 
  • He was appointed the Maharaja of Jodhpur's court musician in his early twenties. Since his father's passing in 1972, he has continued the family legacy. 
  • He has received a number of honours, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1963), the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibushan, and the President of India Award (1963).

Alla Rakha (1919–2000) 

He was regarded as one of the greatest tabla players ever. He received praise for both his performance skill and the exceptional feat of accompaniment he performed for other artists. 

  • Under his true name, A.R. Qureshi, he entered the Bombay film industry as a music director in 1936. He wrote music for a variety of Hindi and Punjabi films, including blockbusters like Sabak, Khandan, Maa Baap, Madari, and Bewafa. In 1986, he started the Institute of Music in Mumbai. 
  • In addition, he received numerous accolades in San Francisco and California for his work as an accompanist and soloist overseas. He received awards such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1982) and the Padma Shri (1977) at home.

Amjad Ali Khan (b.1945)

He is one of the greatest Sarod players and learned the instrument's techniques from his father, Hafiz Ali Khan. 

  • He has the distinction of being the first musician from north India to give a performance at Thyagaraja's Thiruvaiyur shrine in his honour. 
  • He significantly altered sarod's traditional form and organisation. He also contributed to innovation by introducing the gayaki ang, which has given performances on this instrument new dimensions. 

Bismillah Khan (b.1916)

He was the most exceptional and masterful Shehnai player of the modern era. At the age of 14, he had his first significant public appearance in 1930 when he performed at the All India Music Conference in Allahabad. It was Ustad Bismillah Khan's area of expertise to create complex sound patterns on the shehnai, which had previously been thought to be impossible.

Zakir Hussain (b. 1951)

He is, without a doubt, the current tabla king. He is the famous tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha's son. At the age of 12, Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan performed together at his first official concert. 

  • He has written the music for films like Cappola's Apocalypse Now, Bernardo Bertolucci's The Little Buddha, Ismail Merchant's In Custody and Heat and Dust, Merchant Ivory's A Perfect Murder, and some American television serials. 
  • In addition to performing with the Indian jazz ensemble Shakti, Ustad Zakir Hussain also provides support for other Indian classical musicians. He has released 145 albums to date and has taught tabla at universities in Washington, California, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and other cities. 

L. Subramaniam 

He is regarded as one of India's top violinists and is well-known and respected throughout the world. Along with Sir Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grappelli, he was a featured soloist in "All the World's Violins," a concert conducted in Belgium. 

  • He has written the soundtrack for films like Mississippi Masala and Salaam Bombay. Additionally, he performed as a soloist in Ismail Merchant's Cotton Mary and Bernardo Bertolucci's Little Buddha. 
  • He served as Peter Brook's legendary Mahabharata stage production's music advisor. With jazz legends including Stephane Grappelli, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, Maynard Ferguson, Hubert Laws, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Larry Coryell, and Tony Williams, he has recorded his East-West fusion works.

Vilayat Khan

The Ittawa gharana, with roots in Tansen of Akbar's court, was founded by Vilayat Khan, the late Ustad Inayat Khan's son. He is one of India's most well-known sitar players. He holds a significant position in the field of classical instrumental music as well. The invention of a brand-new sitar playing technique known as Vilayatkhaani baaj is Vilayat Khan's singular contribution to Indian classical music. This is the gayaki ang, or whole vocal style, that he invented, developed, and transmitted to a school of followers.

Conclusion

Music in modern India has undergone remarkable transformations. It has embraced diverse genres and styles. Music in modern India reflects the cultural mosaic of the nation. It resonates with people from various backgrounds. Music in modern India has become more accessible and inclusive. It continues to evolve and adapt to contemporary trends. Music in modern India has gained global recognition and influence. It serves as a powerful medium of expression and unity. Music in modern India connects people and transcends boundaries. Music in modern India is a vibrant and integral part of the country's cultural fabric.

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Music In Modern India FAQs

Modern India embraces a wide range of genres, including Bollywood, pop, classical, folk, and fusion.

Technology has revolutionised the production, distribution, and accessibility of music in modern India through digital platforms and streaming services.

Yes, traditional forms of music continue to hold significance and are preserved and practised alongside contemporary styles in modern India.

Music in modern India, especially Bollywood music, has gained international popularity and influenced global music trends.

Music in modern India reflects the rich cultural diversity of the country, celebrating various languages, regions, and traditions, promoting unity amidst diversity.
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