L5 - Composing Indian Classical Music

Lesson Objectives:

  • To combine elements from previous lessons on Indian music into one complete work using the elements of Alap, Jor, Gat and Jhalla to form a complete raga performance with awareness of structure.

ICM - L5

Task

Alap

  • This section should be played by the melody and drone player only. It should begin very slowly and in free rhythm, with the melody player exploring the notes of the raga.


  • Pay particular attention to the MOOD of your own raga and try to capture this in your performance.


  • The raga melody will be IMPROVISED so don’t write it down! Write the notes of your raga scale here and the two DRONE notes.

Jor

  • This section is the transition between the Alap and the Gat sections


  • This is the point you introduce your Tala

Gat

  • All players join in


  • Once a regular pulse is established the raga and tala player can start improvising.

Jhalla

  • This is where you need to work out the ending for your piece

Full Structure