Dear Rob:
I stumbled on your post while searching for hindusthani classical music ringtones, havent yet found them. It is nice to see your interest in Indian classical music. The reply to your post seems to have some misconceptions about Hindusthani music and the differences between Hindusthani and Carnatic music.
The main differences between Hindusthani and Caranatic music are
(a) structure of raagas : Eventhough Hindusthani and Carnatic music
Are based on the same raaga system, the names(eg: Bhoopali and Mohanam)
And the way each raaga (even with the same notes) is treated is quite
Different. Hindusthani raagas are characterised by the characterisitc
Movement (pakad) and not just by the notes, while Carnatic raagas are
More characterised by their notes. It is common in Hindusthani to have
Different raagas (eg: Bhoopali and Deshkar) with the same notes, while
This is not possible in Carnatic music. So the same raagas (with the same notes) will sound very different when sung in hindusthani and carnatic style. However, there is cross migration of raagas between the two systems (eg Hamswadhwani to hindusthani and Brindavani Saarang to Carnatic), even here I feel that the raagas sound very different when sung in the two systems, especially when hindusthani raagas are sung by carnatic musicians.
(b) in the style of singing : Hindusthani progresses from a short non-lyrical exposition of the raaga(aalap), then a slow exposition of the raaga through a short lyrical piece(khayal) with increasing tempo culminating in another short lyrical piece sung in fast tempo (drut) ending with taans(fast movements without words but with aah sounds). Carnatic is mostly even paced and more composition based. There is raaga vistaram (similar to aalap) in carnatic music, but they are usually done at an even tempo and in a tyoe of composition called raagam-thanam-pallavai. Taans are also there in carnatic music but usually done as a part of raagam thaanam pallavi. Hindusthani raagas have specific mood and time delineation , lie morning, noon, evening and night raagas, romantic raagas, monsoon raagas. This delineation is very little in Carnatic, eventhough there are some raagas like nattai which are nown to be morning raagas. However Hindusthani musicians will never sing a morning raaga for an evening concert while Carnatic musicians will sing nattai for evening concerts. This shows that the mood and the time of a raaga is not that important in carnatic music.
(c) content of music : carnatic being more lyrical and rhythm based while Hindusthani is more mood and raaga based. The lyrics of Carnatic music are entirely hindu devotional while Hindusthani music has devotional (both hindu and muslim), romantic and other types of lyrics.
In addition, there are other differences like the rhythms (taals) which are in general different in both systems, eventhough there are some common taals (eg teen taal and adi taal). There are also differences in the instruments being used to accompany (tabla, harmoniu, saarangi for hindusthani vocal while mridangam, ganjira, ghatam for carnatic) vocal music in both the systems.
[ Hindustani music, on the other hand, is more distinguished and though
Set in Northern India, has roots from Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal (except Afghanistan, the other three were actually a
Part of India a long time ago) and hence has masters who are both
Hindus and Muslims. That is the reason we have Hindu "pandits" and
Muslim "Ustads" like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, both
Well-versed in Hindustani music. Now the question comes as to what is
The difference between the two...]
It is true that Hindusthani music has been influenced by the Persians, who ruled India for many years as Mughals. However, it is quite wrong to say that it has roots in non-Indian (or even non-hindu culture). This seems to be a common misconception among carnatic music enthusiasts. The oldest form of Indian classical music is Dhrupad, which has direct origins from the saama veda chants. Dhrupad music, which still has a large following in india and is quite meditative, evolved into the present khayal based hindusthani music during the time of mughals through improvisations of great musiciams like Tansen, Amir khusroo (inventor of sitar). I feel that Hindusthani music has benefitted from this muslim influence and is hence more inclusive and spiritual than carnatic which has become more of tradition, hereditory lineage, exclusive and hence rigid over the years. After all, there is only one God, whether Hindu, Muslim or Christian and if music is spiritual it should be in priase of all divinity and not just hindu gods.
[Simply put, Carnatic music emphasizes more on singing than Hindustani. Most of the compositions in Carnatic are sung
Rather than played on instruments. Hindustani, on the other hand, is a
Mix of singing and instrumental. There are similarities between these
Two forms too. ]
This is clearly not true, hindusthani vocal music is and has been the torchbearer of hindusthani music. Vocal music remains the most expressive, important, respected, and popular among serious hindusthani classical music enthusiasts. Ofcourse insturmental music seems to be more appealing to aquaintances of hindusthani music and hence its popularity among the not so serious music enthusiasts.
Regarding your question about learning Indian classical music, if anybody plans to become a professional musician it is not possible to do that without years of serious study and practice in close proximity with a guru. In hindusthani music, the training of serious candidates is still done in the gurukula system, eventhough the student may not stay with the guru now a days, but will have to attend daily (or more frequent) practice sessions. There are also many students who stay with their gurus and learn the music.
With the availibility of internet, it is very easy to find music samples. You could search youtube for short and long music clips of various artists. Patric Moutal, Rajan Parrikar and Sunil Mukhi maintain good websites on Hindusthani music. You may even be able to buy Indian instruments online. However if you are seriouly interested in Indian music you could visit India and go around the concert circles in northe and south. It is Music season in Chennai from December, a good place for listening to Carnatic music. There are various Hindusthani music festivals (usually runs for 24 hours to listen to raags of all hues), Sawai Gandharva festival of Pune, Tansen festival, etc are some of the biggest.
I hope I have answered your queries.
With best regards
Baburaj
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) been interested in the classical music of India. It just seems to fit my idea of what music should be. Music to me isn't about heavily produced rap songs, it's this improvised classical music from the soul. It interests me very much that there's so much feeling in ICM. I heard some Indian musicans play, with tabla's, sarods, sitars.. etc and I was blown away. It was so radically different, so "live" sounding, so loosely structured and captivating, it intrigued me. It's definitely an acquired taste for sure, and even the Canadian-Indian people I know tell me it sounds like animals dying and they avoid it like the plague, so it's hard to find anyone interested in it. 
so it's most unlikely that you'll find someone who truly loves ICM among the NRI community. There are a select few, but it's hard to trace them.
Well it's okay I'll do it soon - it's a scene from a Telugu movie about ICM and how modern times are killing it. 
This trend will continue to grow - Indians getting attracted to Western countries and vice-versa. Only time will tell what'll happen next!
