Introduction

The theory and practice of Indian music are the logical result of a consistent development, a distinctive process, which plays an integral part in Indian history and culture.

One should not listen to Indian music and judge it in terms of Western music or any other musical form. It would be like judging Beethoven or Brahms in terms of raag (the basis of Indian melody) and Taal (the basis of Indian rhythm). A listener is requested to forget counterpoint, harmony, and mixed tone colours for a moment and to relax into the rhythmic and melodic patterns.

The totally diverse factor from the western classical music is that the music is not prewritten or pre-rehersed.The artist might have a few raags in mind that he/she would decide to present but that too can change on fermaish from the audience (the audience's preference of the raag they would like to listen to).

Introduction

Saptak (The Scale)

The Drone

Thaat

Today's form of Raag

The meaning of Alaap

The meaning of Taan

Raag Samay Chakra

Difference between Raag and Thaat

Ornamental Melody

Raag and Ras(Emotion)

Raag formation rules

Similarities and differences in Raags

Origin of Raag Names

The general Schema of raag Presentation

The Notation System

40 Principles of Indian Classical Music