modulation in Indian Music?

I heard that recently, some practitioners (I think this is only in Hindustani music) have begun the practice of: suddenly, in the middle of one raga, provide a brief "window" into another raga, just for a few seconds. (akin to "modal mixture" in the Western Cl. tradition--though with a very different effect due to context).

I heard this at a concert a few years ago (well actually 1994 or so). It was a quite well-known Indian musician. It was electrifying, esp. in the context of the same raga for an hour or so.

I think only certain schools do it, so far.

>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 17:41:14 -0000
> From: "Haresh BAKSHI" <hareshbakshi@hotmail.com>
> Subject: No drone in Indian music before 12th century (was: Re: More on shruti-s)
>
> Dear Ozan,
>
> The way I understand modulation, it can be between different tonal
> centres, and between different tonal types (major and minor tonalities).
>
> An example: we can modulate from the major tonality of C to:
> 1. A different tonal centre, but the same tonal type, such as F major;
> 2. The same tonal centre, but a different tonal type, which is c minor;
> 3. A different tonal centre and a different tonal type, such as f minor.
>
> And what I contend is that modulation in the above sense does not
> exist in Indian music. I stand corrected if the term 'modulation' does
> not mean what I think it means.
>
> As Carl remarked, your interpretation of the usage of 'modulation' is
> perhaps different from the above. Can you please tell me more about this?
>
> Thanks and regards,
> Haresh.
>
> --- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "Ozan Yarman" <ozanyarman@...> wrote:
>>
>> For the love of Allah, will no one condone the usage of the term
> modulation as this poor soul imagines it to be?
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>>>>> 7. As traditionally rendered, Hindustani music contains absolutely
>>>>> no modulation.
>>>>
>>>> Ozan, given this information, do you still consider Hindustani music
>>>> to be a form of Maqam music?
>>>
>>> I don't think Haresh was using the same meaning of the term
>>> "modulation" as Ozan was.
>>>
>>> -Carl
>>>

very subversive :)
> Message: 8 > Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:09:37 -0500 (EST)
> From: Christopher Bailey <chris@music.columbia.edu>
> Subject: modulation in Indian Music?
>
>
> I heard that recently, some practitioners (I think this is only in > Hindustani music) have begun the practice of: suddenly, in the middle of > one raga, provide a brief "window" into another raga, just for a few > seconds. (akin to "modal mixture" in the Western Cl. tradition--though > with a very different effect due to context).
>
> I heard this at a concert a few years ago (well actually 1994 or so). It > was a quite well-known Indian musician. It was electrifying, esp. in > the context of the same raga for an hour or so.
>
> I think only certain schools do it, so far.
>
> >
> -- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island <http://anaphoria.com/>
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