Ghazal is an originally Persian form of poetry. In the Indian sub-continent, Ghazal became the most common form of poetry in the Urdu language and was popularized by classical poets like Mir Taqi Mir, Ghalib, Zauq and Sauda amongst the North Indian literary elite. Vocal music set to this mode of poetry is popular with multiple variations across
Thumri is a semi classical vocal form said to have begun with the court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, 1847-1856. There are three types of thumri: Punjabi, Lucknavi and poorab ang thumri. The lyrics are typically in a proto-Hindi language called Braj bhasha and are usually romantic.
Another vocal form, Tarana is song that is used to convey a mood of elation and is usually performed towards the end of a concert. They consist of a few lines of rhythmic sounds. The singer uses these few lines as a basis for very fast improvisation. It can be compared to the Tillana of Carnatic music.
Khyal, literally meaning "Thought" in Urdu, is special as it is based on improvising and expressing emotion. Khyal is a form of vocal music in Hindustani music, adopted from medieval Persian music and based off of Dhrupad music A Khyal is a 4 to 8 lined lyric set to tune. The lyric is of an emotional account possibly from poetic observation. Khyal are also more popularly depicting emotional significance between two lovers, a situation evoking intense feeling, or situations of ethological significance in Hinduism and Islam.
Dhrupad is the Hindu sacred style of singing, traditionally performed by male singers. It is performed with a tanpura and a pakhawaj as instrumental accompaniments. The lyrics, which were in Sanskrit centuries ago, are presently sung in Brajbhasha, a medieval form of Hindi that was spoken in
Indian classical music is broadly divided into two genres. These are Hindustani and Carnatic. Actually speaking, Carnatic music developed in the south of the country, while Hindustani is indigenous to the north.
Hindustani Classical Music is a North Indian classical music tradition that has been evolving from the 12th centuries AD onwards it is based on ragas. A raga is a melodic scale, consisting of notes from the basic seven known as sa, re, ga, ma pa, dha, and ni. Apart from Sa and pa which are constant, the other notes may be in major or minor tone, and this gives rise to innumerable combinations. Ten basic scales or that is recognized, and other ragas are considered to have evolved from these. A raga must contain a minimum of five notes.
Carnatic music is a one of the oldest systems of music in the world. The present form of Carnatic music is based on historical developments that can be traced to the 15th - 16th centuries CE and thereafter. From the several epigraphically inscriptional evidences and other ancient works, the history of classical musical traditions can be traced back about 2500 years. In Carnatic music, the main emphasis is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style. The basis of Carnatic music is the system of ragas and talas. There are seven talas and 72 fundamental ragas. An important element of Carnatic music is its devotional content. Imbued with emotion and the spirit of improvisation; it also contains a scientific approach the lyrics of the traditional compositions, whether mythological or social in nature, are set entirely against a devotional or philosophical background.
