Northern India

The primary genre of traditional music in Northern India is called Hindustani. Originating from Carnatic music, Hindustani music can be traced back to the 12th century. Hindustani is a type of classical music whose aural emphasis comes from vocals, with accompaniment from the tambura, sarod, and tabla. There are two fundamental elements required for Hindustani music: raga and tala.

(Tambura) 

(Tabla)

(Sarod)

The tambura is a four-stringed, long-necked lute with a large gourd body, whose primary sound is reminiscent of buzzing. The tambura is also a common component in Southern Indian music. The long-necked lute, also called the sarod, is the main melodic instrument in Hindustani music. Tabla refers to a pair of drums consisting of a small wooden one, and a larger metal one. Interestingly, most drummers can "speak" the strokes played on their drums.

Prominent artists of the genre include Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Bhimsen Joshi. Below is a video of Khan performing "Alap in Misra Kafi," at Washington University in 1967.

The three major forms associated with Hindustani music are khyal, dhrupad, and tarana, among many others. Khyal is a modern form of Hindustani music, literally translating to "imagination," is unusual because it is primarily based on improvisation. Dhrupad is the main form and is widely devotional in theme and content. The fast-paced form, also called tarana, is mostly used to lift an audience emotionally; most performances of tarana form also include dance.

The two fundamental elements of Hindustani music are raga and tala. Raga refers to the comprehensive system that governs the melody, whether it be improvised or composed. Tala denotes the system governing the organization of the musical time. Without these two elements, Indian classical music is not truly Hindustani music.