In this section of the video, one of India's leading classical singers
Veena Sahasrabuddhe, takes us through a complete raga performance.
The singer is accompanied by Bharat Kamath,
on a pair of drums called tabla.
The tabla maintains the rhythm of the performance.
Pramod Marathe plays the harmonium,
which provides a melodic counterpoint to the singer.
Three of Veena's young students are also on stage,
occasionally giving vocal support.
The stringed instrument played by Veena and two of the students
is called the tanpura.
It provides a drone throughout the performance.
Later on, you'll be able to watch the complete performance of this piece,
Rag Rageshree,
but before that, we'll join Veena's students for a master class,
in which she clarifies some of the important stages in the performance,
through a combination of explanation and demonstration.
Our music is based on improvisation.
In Hindu we say (Speaks Indian)
Or you can say (Speaks Indian)
One memorises the passages or phrases of each raga,
and which should be sung often in that raga,
so that the form of the raga becomes clear.
Let's take an example of rageshree,
I will sing the aroh-avaroh.
(Tanpura)
(Veena sings)
Before we start to sing a rag in rag composition,
first we have to take some introductory alaps,
so the listener can... so the listener and the person singing,
it's clear that he is singing that raga.
(Tanpura)
(Sings)
We take it in alaps.
(Sings)
There are so many ways if you would like to improvise it that way.
We don't have any written score in front of us,
but there are some passages like (Sings)
We can't avoid these passages, these phrases. (Sings)
(Sings)