Taking a Musical Trip: Indian Classical Music

Ethan Bowser 

History and Characteristics of Indian Classical Music
    Indian classical music has a rich history. It began as a single musical tradition stemming from vocal chanting nearly 5,000 years ago, becoming highly diversified and developed by 1000 AD, when invading Islamic armies arrived in India and blended it with their own musical styles ("Indian Classical Music"). By the sixteenth century, musical performance had become a full-fledged profession, with artists connected by mentorship and lineage, supported by a network of patrons. Around the nineteenth century the system of patronage broke down, allowing new voices and styles to be heard. Today, Indian classical music is a more diverse genre than it ever has been.

    Melody and pitch in Indian classical music are incredibly complex. The dynamics, or musical mood, of an Indian classical piece is called the raga, made of a collection of at least five notes. These notes have a unique timbre and are constructed from sharp, flat, and pure notes (Kaur). There are hundreds of ragas. They can reflect many different moods, from rainy days to morning and evening time. Rhythm patterns, called tala, are also complex and can have five, seven, nine, and many other beats. Despite the limits in pitch imposed upon each piece by its raga, improvisation in melody is very important in Indian classical music. This is thought to be because music was passed down orally in short segments rather than long, grand compositions (Thomas). Thus, even if two pieces are played with the same raga, they will still sound different due to the performer's ability to rearrange musical phrases, making every performance unique.

Instruments
    A few of the instruments used in Indian classical music include the sitar, tambura, and violin. The sitar is a plucked string instrument with a gourd-shaped resonance chamber and a long neck ("Indian Classical Music"), like a guitar. It has 21-23 strings, but only a third of these are actually played. The rest, called sympathetic strings, are set to certain tunes and resonate when the same pitch is played on the plucked strings, giving the instrument a distinctive ring (Thomas). The tambura is another stringed instrument, with a much more manageable five strings, good for producing drones. It is a good instrument for beginners. The violin, though not a traditional Indian instrument, has been appropriated for Indian classical music. Instead of being played next to the performer's chin, it is played on the knee. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, vocals are very important to Indian classical music, given the genre's roots in hymns and chanting. Vocals in the genre can vary from elaborations on ragas to Romantic poetry (Kaur).

    Below is a (very long) recording of Indian classical music by noted sitar player Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, 2016, unknown country of origin. I love the soft timbre and contemplative mood of the raga.

 

    Below is a recording of a performance by Indian classical music vocalist Kaushiki Chakrabory, 2017, England. The dynamic trills and extreme changes in pitch are astounding, while the song's fast tempo, kept meticulously by the drums, kept me engrossed. The complex musical melody in the background is also very dynamic.

 

My Opinion
    As a performer, I both approve of and dislike the emphasis on improvisation in Indian classical music. I like it because I love being creative, and the ability to rearrange musical phrases to make a desired melody appeals to me. On the other hand, I think many of the great compositions I enjoy listening to, like symphonies and concertos, would be diminished if they were broken up into little pieces and played in a different order. Also, it seems to me like it would be difficult to have a symphony play a piece of this type of music when there is no set composition for everyone to stick to. I'm sure there is some way of dealing with it, though. As a banjo player, I love the use of the sitar in the genre. The twangy resonance of the instrument gives it a familiar, nostalgic timbre for me. The Indian vocal music I listened to amazed me with the talent of the singers, particularly their range and ability to trill and change notes rapidly.

References:
Indian Classical Music. “Indian Classical Music: About, History, & Compositions.” Ipassio, ipassio, www.ipassio.com/wiki/music-styles/indian-classical-music. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026. 
Kaur, Seetal. “An Introduction to: Indian Classical Music | Making Music.” Making Music, The National Federation of Music Societies, www.makingmusic.org.uk/resource/introduction-indian-classical-music. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Thomas, Anne Elise. “Rhythm and Raga.” Edited by Marcia Friedman, The Trump Kennedy Center, The Kennedy Center, 7 Jan. 2020, www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/international/rhythm-and-raga/.