Music (the soul of dance)

Music (the soul of dance)

All these dance styles depend upon music for their sustenance. Nada (sound) is believed to be the very process of creation and ancient verses from the holy scriptures were chanted in a special manner, peculiar to India. This tradition continues and is a form of meditation, of concentration and of worship.

Indian music has its traditional origins in the Sama Veda, and age-old text. It is believed that a musical scale, aesthetics in music, basic rhythm, and a system of notation, all go back to this ancient exposition of their principles.

Indian classical music is broadly divided into two systems, commonly described as the Hindustani and Carnatic systems. While Hindustani music represents the music of North India the Carnatic form of music is from the South India. As in the case of the dance styles, their heritage and philosophy is a common one; their base and general structure is the same. Their ragas however, are usually different, and they have unique methods to present the same raga.

While Carnatic music remains untouched by foreign influences, the same cannot be said of Hindustani music, which felt the influence of Persian and Central Asian music after invasions and migrations from those areas.