When exposed to Hindustani music, the novice listener needs
to figure out what is going on. The
answer to this query depends on the genre in which the music is being
performed. Each genre has a different way of manifesting the Raga (the Commanding
Form) as a communicable Form. These different
“ways” are represented in the pre-composed element of Raga rendition, along with the different improvisatory movements hosted by each genre. And, indeed, each musician also
has a different approach to deploying the genre for delivering the Raga to his
listeners in communicable form.
The principal genres on the contemporary scene are Khayal
vocalism, Dhrupad (vocal and instrumental), and the modern genre of the plucked
string instruments, heard mainly on the Sitar, Sarod, the Hawaiian guitar and
the Santoor.
The
first step, then: Assemble ten recordings of Khayal
vocalism, each of a different Raga, performed by different musicians. Listen to
each recording several times over. Your musical mind will identify for you what
is common to all the recordings, isolated from the influence of the different
Raga-s and different musicians performing them. That, which is common to all
these recordings, is the architecture of the Khayal genre.
The
second step.
Assemble ten recordings of Dhrupad – vocal and Rudra Veena -- each
featuring a different Raga, and performed preferably by different musicians. Listen
to each recording several times over. Your musical mind will identify for you
what is common to all the recordings, isolated from the influence of the
different Raga-s and different musicians performing them. That, which is common
to all these recordings, is the architecture of the Dhrupad genre.
The
third step: Assemble ten recordings of instrumental music
on the major string instruments – Sitar, Sarod, Hawaiian guitar, and Santoor. They
should all be of different Ragas, preferably performed by different musicians. Listen to each recording several times over.
Your musical mind will identify for you what is common to all the recordings,
isolated from the influence of the different Raga-s and different musicians
performing them. That, which is common to all these recordings, is the
architecture of the modern instrumental genre of the plucked string instruments.
Once you start anticipating the movements typical of each
genre while listening to a concert -- any concert -- you have made decent progress towards becoming a connoisseur. This does not mean there will be no surprises. But, being able to identify them will itself be a source of delight.
