What are the similarities between Hindustani music and Carnatic music?
Asked by Dinesh M Last Modified
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Abhijith Sastry
Senior(Exam) in Carnatic Music. Expert in Light music, devotional songs, folk songs etc
A difficult question to answer because both are like two oceans for comparison. Hindustani and Carnatic Music Syatems: 1) Similarities: (i) The basic elements of Sruti (the relative musical pitch), Swara (the musical sound of a single note), Raga (the mode or melodic formulæ and Tala (the...
read more A difficult question to answer because both are like two oceans for comparison. Hindustani and Carnatic Music Syatems: 1) Similarities: (i) The basic elements of Sruti (the relative musical pitch), Swara (the musical sound of a single note), Raga (the mode or melodic formulæ and Tala (the rhythmic cycles). The performance is similar set to a melodic pattern called a raga (also spelled as raag) characterized in part by specific ascent (Aroha) and descent (Avaroha) sequences, which may not be identical. Other common characteristics include Vadi and Queen Samavadi notes. (ii) A handful of ragas have a one to one correspondence on both systems. They are, Hindolam (Malkauns), Mohanam (Bhoop), Shankarabharanam (Bilawal) and Kalyani (Yaman). (iii) Similar to gamakams in carnatic style, the hindustani style employs "meend". (iv) Both are originated from India. read less
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Well, before I answer, a disclaimer: this is a frivolous POV from an amateur, but read if you will. Like a true Indian student, I'll go ahead and answer in points. Carnatic Music is like the strict patriarch- ramrod straight, rigid, a stickler for rules and form, with extensive technical know-how....
read more Well, before I answer, a disclaimer: this is a frivolous POV from an amateur, but read if you will. Like a true Indian student, I'll go ahead and answer in points. Carnatic Music is like the strict patriarch- ramrod straight, rigid, a stickler for rules and form, with extensive technical know-how. Hindustani music, on the other hand, is like the genial old grandma- friendly, more accessible, flexible, occasionally better/more easily understood. Getting down to subject matter, Carnatic is for the most part devotional, in praise of divinity, strewn with metaphysical teachings. While Hindustani includes issues that society tends to be more interested in and finds easier to connect with- love, longing, nature, beauty and the like. Hindustani appears more melody-intensive, focusing on voice quality/tone/quality, vocal gymnastics, raga-emotion while Carnatic, paying attention to them all, gives equal importance to specific compositions and rhythmic/mathematical wizardry. The words to compositions in Hindustani music are few and far between and of relatively little importance. But in the Carnatic tradition, the compositions are long, verbose, poetic and stand apart as individual pieces worth appreciation. Ultimately, I listen to both styles and enjoy them immensely and my answer is just my perspective, not to be judged academically. read less
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Carnatic and Hindustani are two popular forms of Indian Classical music. Both have similar ragas with different names. Different way of presentation as in Alap, etc.
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Usha Shankar Ram
Tutor
Few rsgas resemble; but the names will be different, only when dung we may identify
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Usha Shankar Ram
Tutor
Both are monophonic, follow a melody line, few ragas are similar but with different names
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Ishaan Nigam
Indian Classical Music Vocal Instructor with 4 years of Experience. MA in Indian Classical Vocals.
In Hindustani Classical Music we generally try to hit the straight notes too...but in Carnatic Music the initial training begins with the sliding of notes(meend).
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As I see it, Karnataki music has been restrained in terms its exploits for making light music. Hindustani classical has moved into practically every genre. But this is not stastical statement.
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Even though Carnatic music and Hindustani music are two different styles of singing, there are similarities like Swara, Raga and Tala, which are all the same.
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There are a lot of ragas that are shared by both streams of music besides the common aspects such as sur and taal. Eg: Kedar and Hamirkalyani, Sohini and Hamsanandi, Yeman and Kalyani, Durga and Suddha Saveri etc
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Shwetha Devanahally
Carnatic Vocalist And PlayBack Singer
Music is divine. Both carnatic and hindustani music are inter-related. They are the best forms of music. Carnatic music has a set of definitions and it is more concentrated on thala and swaras. In hindustani music it is all about he flow of raagas. The major differnce is the presentation of music by...
read more Music is divine. Both carnatic and hindustani music are inter-related. They are the best forms of music. Carnatic music has a set of definitions and it is more concentrated on thala and swaras. In hindustani music it is all about he flow of raagas. The major differnce is the presentation of music by people. Both are beautiful art. read less
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