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Home / IAS Preparation / Hindustani vs Carnatic Music

Hindustani And Carnatic Music - Differences and Similarities

Last Updated on Nov 15, 2023
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Carnatic Music developed concurrently in the southern states of India, and Hindustani Music has been developed in the northern states of India. The difference Between Hindustani And Carnatic Music is basically in the tunes of the music, and it also showcases the North-South split in India. There is a unique representation of each of the music styles characterised by different tunes and songs. There are various compositions of both Hindustani and Carnatic styles that are prominently used.

Difference between Hindustani and Carnatic Music

Difference Between Hindustani And Carnatic Music is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the Art & Culture subject in the General Studies Paper-1 syllabus. In this article, we shall study the Difference and Similarities Between Hindustani And Carnatic Music.

Difference between Hindustani and Carnatic Music

The difference between Hindustani and Carnatic Music is shown in the table below.

Aspect

Hindustani Music

Carnatic Music

Geographical Origin

Hindustani music originated in North India, particularly in the regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan.

Carnatic music originated in South India, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Raga System

Consists of a scale with specific ascending and descending patterns. These are known as aroha and avaroha, respectively. 

Has a more extensive repertoire of ragas compared to Hindustani music. The ragas have fixed structures and intricate melodic patterns known as gamakas. 

Tal System

The most common talas include:

  • teental (16 beats), 
  • ektaal (12 beats), and 
  • jhaptaal (10 beats).

Carnatic music uses a different tal system called tala. It has a wide variety of talas, including:

  • adi tala (8 beats), 
  • rupaka tala (6 beats), and 
  • misra chapu (7 beats). 

Instruments

Instruments include sitar, sarod, tabla, harmonium, flute, and santoor. These instruments are used to accompany vocal performances and also for solo performances.

Instruments used include the veena, violin, mridangam, ghatam, flute, and kanjira. The violin is particularly prominent in Carnatic music and is often used as a solo instrument.

Performance Style
  • A more introspective and meditative style characterizes hindustani music.
  • The performances are often longer, and the artists explore the emotional and aesthetic aspects of the ragas. 
  • The use of alap (slow, improvised introduction) and jor (medium-tempo development) before entering the main composition is common.
  • Carnatic music is known for its energetic and lively performances. 
  • The emphasis is on rhythmic precision and intricate patterns.
  • The performances typically include compositions with composed lyrics and structured improvisations. 
  • The artists often engage in raga elaboration, followed by the rendering of composed pieces, including varnams, kritis, and ragam-tanam-pallavi (RTP).

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What is Carnatic music?

Carnatic Music developed concurrently in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka; however, Persian Music in India's wide northern geography served as an inspiration for the subgenres of Hindustani Music.

  • Carnatic Music embraces much creativity, comprised of Alpana, Niraval, Kalpanaswaram, and Ragam Thana Pallavi.
  • Purandaradasa (1480–1564) is the originator of Carnatic music. He is known for codifying the Carnatic music technique. Additionally, he is credited with writing thousands of songs.
  • Venkat Mukhi Swami is yet another outstanding name connected to Carnatic Music. He is revered as the founder of Carnatic music theory. Additionally, he created the "Melankara" system for categorizing south Indian ragas.

Important features of Carnatic Music

  • Raga and Thalam System: There is a very sophisticated theoretical system in Carnatic music. It is based on the intricate Ragam (Raga) and Thalam system (Tala).
    • Different modes are used to categorise the ragams. These modes are known as mela, and there are 72 of them.
    • The rhythmic core of Carnatic music is the Tala (thalam).
  • Varanam: Carnatic performance is divided into several parts. A composition called Varanam is typically played to open a recital. The Purvanga, or first half, and the Uttaranga, or second half, make up Varanam.
  • The compositions of the kritis are set in the rag. The “Alapana” provides a technique to explain the Ragam to the audience while also giving the performer a lot of creative freedom.
  • Ragam is a form of unaccompanied, free-form melodic improvisation.
  • Tanam is yet another form of free rhythmic, melodic improvisation.
  • Pallavi is a brief melody that has been pre-composed and is set to one cycle of Tala.

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What is Hindustani music?

Hindustani Music has been around since the Sufi era. As a result of Persian and Mughal influences in the north, changes between Hindustani and Carnatic Music started to happen in the 12th century.

The main vocal forms of Hindustani Music are Dhrupad, Khayal, Tarana, Thumri, Dadra, and Gazals. It Emphasis on the moral construction of the song (Nadi and Samvadi swars).

Important Features of Hindustani Music

  • Raga System: Hindustani music is based on the raga system. The form of the raga is also affected by the specific ascent and descent pattern of the notes, which may not be strictly linear.
  • Vocal Styles: Hindustani classical music focuses mainly on the voice. The khayal, Ghazal, dhrupad, dhammar, Tarana, and thumri are the principal vocal styles connected with Hindustani classical music.
  • Dhrupad Styles: Men typically sing in the Dhrupad style, using a tanpura and pakhawaj.
    • Dhrupad’s lyrics are sung in a medieval form of Hindi and frequently have a heroic theme or are in honor of a certain god.
  • Khayal Style: Dhrupad has been replaced by the less rigid and more free-form khayal.
    • Khayal is a song with lyrics that range from 4 to 8 lines.
    • These few sentences serve as the performer’s foundation for improvisation.
    • Hussain Shah Sharqui, a member of the Sharqui dynasty who ruled in the 15th century, is credited with creating the Khayal style of Hindustani classical music.
  • Tarana Style: Tarana is yet another vocal style of Hindustani music. Tarana songs, which express joy, are typically performed toward the conclusion of a concert.
  • Thumri Style: Hindustani classical music’s informal vocal style, thumri, is supposed to have originated in the court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Oudh.
  • Ghazal Styles: Ghazal, a significant component of Hindustani Classical music, was originally a Persian style of vocal music.
    • There are many different styles of ghazal, including folk and pop.
    • Ghulam Ali, Jagjit Singh, Mehndi Hassan, and Pankaj Udhas are some famous Ghazal singers.
    • Themes in ghazals include piety, joy, and love.

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Similarities Between Hindustani and Carnatic Music
  • The primary elements and foundations are the same in these two music styles, such as ragas, swaras, and talas.
  • Both of these musical genres have their roots in spirituality and religion; Hindustani music developed during the Vedic era, and Carnatic music first appeared during the Bhakti movement.
  • Both employ Taanpura (or Drone) as their primary Shruthi and are monophonic.
  • These two types were created by the translation of the Sanskrit language.
  • Both of these musical traditions employ the Sampoorna scale to describe the Janya Raga.
  • Melodies are given utter importance in both the Hindustani and Carnatic styles.

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Conclusion

The difference between Hindustani and Carnatic Music is represented through the different forms, songs, tunes, and styles of ragas, taranas, and gharanas. Although composition and improvisation are combined to provide Dhrupad, Khayal, or Carnatic Music, there is such a divergence here that it is impossible to understand one without understanding the other. Hence, every style is interconnected with others.

Difference Between Hindustani And Carnatic Music – Know Origin, Salient Features & Similarities for UPSC: Download PDF here

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Difference Between Hindustani And Carnatic Music - FAQs

The difference between Hindustani and Carnatic Music is that Hindustani music originated in Northern India and it includes Gharanas whereas Carnatic Music originated in South India and does not include Gharanas.

Both Carnatic and Hindustani music have their own styles and tunes. Carnatic music is indigenous whereas Hindustani Music is inspired by Afghan and Arabic styles.

Purandaradasa is known as the father of Carnatic music. He is known to compose many Keerthanas with the pen name of Purandara Vittala. He is credited with codifying the Carnatic music style. He is also credited with the writing of thousands of Carnatic songs.

Carnatic music has got its name because of the Sanskrit term Karnataka Sangitam which denotes “traditional” or “codified” music. Carnatic Music is composed Ragam system (Raga) and Thalam (Tala).

Some of the commonly used instruments of Hindustani Music are sitar, sarod, sarangi, shehnai, tambura, and tabla.
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