♡ AoS6 - Music for small ensembles / World music

China: Key characteristics

Pentatonic scale

Heterophonic

Duple/quadruple meter

Flexible rhythm

China: Techniques

Pitch bending

Vibrato

Glissando, trill, tremolo

China: Instruments

Silk (string)

→ Erhu (bowed, nasal tone)

→ Pipa (lute, rapid strumming)

→ Yangpin (hammered dulcimer/banjo)

→ Guzheng (glissando)

Bamboo (wind)

→ Dizi (flute)

→ Sheng (mouth organ)

Percussion

→ Clappers

→ Woodblocks

North India: Key characteristics

Rāgas (melodic modes)

Tālas (rhythmic cycles)

Slow Alāp (improve) → faster sections (Jōr, Jhālā)

Improv melodies over drone/sustained notes and tabla rhythm

North India: Structure

Alap (slow, unmetered intro)

Jor (pulse introduced, no percussion)

Jhala (fast conclusion)

North India: Technique

Meend (glide)

Gamak (vocal oscillation)

Tihai (threefold rhythmic pattern, end on beat one)

North India: Instruments

Melodic

→ Sitar (plucked lute)

→ Sarod (deeper plucked lute)

→ Bansoori (bamboo flute)

→ Sarangi (bowed string)

→ Santoor (hammered dulcimer/banjo)

Drone

→ Tanpura (four-stringed, sustained note)

Rhythmic

→ Tabla (tuned drums)

Middle East: Key characteristics

Maqām system (modal scales)

Heterophonic / call and response

Iqa’at (repeated rhythmic cycles)

Takht ensemble

Middle East: Rhythmic patterns

Masqum (4/4)

Samai (10/8)

Middle East: Techniques

Pitch bending / portamento

Ornamentation

Improvisation

Middle East: Instruments

Melodic

→ Oud (plucked lute)

→ Nay (flute, breathy)

→ Kanun (zither, microtones)

→ Violin/Kamanjah (match maqum)

Percussion

→ Darbuka (drum)

→ Riq / Daf (tambourine-like)