Mike's Oud Forums

microtones in Hindustani music

Edward Powell - 5-8-2009 at 03:15 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOZP4YrNyko

I wanted to share this... series of 4 parts (more to come insha-allah).

I have been intimately involved with Hindustani music for over 20 years and believe it or not this is the FIRST time I have ever heard a truly intelligent, useful, logical, and clear explanation of how microtones (shrutis) are used in North Indian classical music.

These videos have had a sudden and very big impact on me and my concept of ICM. It is like something I have known for many years and then finally to have someone explain it to you logically.

Of course there is always talk about 'this' note placements being slightly different than 'that' in this particular raga... etc, but this is something that I, and seemingly almost all other players just did intuitively - without much conscious attention.

I now realise that I need to go back and review all ragas that I ever learned and discover consciously which shruti-placements are predominant in which ragas... and finally there clearly needs to be a more accurate system of note-naming for the raga system. Obviously komal gandhar for example has at least 3 variations... probably the Turkish koma system could be very very well applied here.