Diffrent kinds of music to specialize in
Indian Classical Music was referred to as shastriya sangeet until the term ‘classical’ was borrowed from the West. The literature on Indian classical music has evolved richly and dramatically. India has a classical musical tradition that is around five thousand years old. Originally, classical music was performed only in courts and temples. Today, it is performed at public concerts or on the radio for anyone to hear. It is, however, enjoyed and performed by people of the upper class. It can be purely instrumental or may feature singers who are telling ancient tales. All of Indian Classical music are of two types viz, Hindustani and Carnatic.
Hindustani music developed in the northern regions of the country, while Carnatic music is indigenous to the south. Carnatic music is considered one of the oldest systems of music in the world. Songs of both these faculties of music are composed by great artists and handed down through generations of disciples. An important element is its devotional content.
Western Classical music is a term that is applied to a body of notated European music that extends back in time to the first millennium. The Classical period reached its majestic culmination with the masterful symphonies, sonatas, and string quartets by the three great composers: Franz Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. While many composers throughout the twentieth-century experimented in new ways with traditional instruments, many of the twentieth-century’s greatest composers, such as Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini and the Russian pianist/composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, remained true to the traditional forms of music history. In addition to new and eclectic styles of musical trends, the twentieth century boasts numerous composers whose harmonic and melodic styles an average listener can still easily appreciate and enjoy.
Contemporary music comprises forms that are built up from very well defined structures. They consist of pop music or music that today features in movies. It is heard at festivals, ceremonies, dances, and is part of daily life.
The ghazal is one style which is known for its rich poetic, and romantic content. The Hindi geet which is basically just a song, and undoubtedly the most popular, is the film song.
Indian pop is hotter than ever. With the reach of cable to millions, pop stars have become household names like Alisha Chinai, Bally Sagoo, Colonial Cousins, Daler Mehndi – Bhangra King, Lucky Ali, Shweta Shetty, to name a few. The different forms of improvization add different facets to music and thereby, provide variety. The ability to improvise varies from performer to performer. According to Malik if you want to enter the Indi-pop segment, you either need a good composing mind or else you need to take the help of a composer. “You need to record a demo and then contact a company. If you get a good deal, your musical journey begins from here,” he says.
Moreover, each of these forms of improvisation evokes different moods. Again, the ability to evoke, characterize and exploit these different moods vary from performer to performer, and forms an integral part of the exhaustive and demanding training that is required. All of the above make music a highly refined, demanding, complex and, most importantly, an exciting art form.