Set 3 | Important Indian Music forms MCQs

Correct Answer is A.

• Gitam is the form of Carnatic Music.
• It is the simplest type of composition which is taught to beginners of music.
• Its music is a melodic extension of the raga in which it is composed and tempo is uniform.
• Its theme is usually devotional. Though there are a few gitas in praise of musical luminaries and Acharyas.

Correct Answer is C.

• Suladi is the form of Carnatic Music.
• It is very much like the gitam in musical structure and arrangement, but the Suladis are of a higher standard than the gitam.
• Suladi is a talamalika, the sections being different in talas.
• The theme is devotional and are composed in different tempos such as Vilambita, Madhya and druta.

Correct Answer is B.

• Svarajati is a form of Carnatic music.
• It is originated as a dance form with jatis tagged on. But later, Syama Sastri, one of the musical trinity, composed svarajatis without jatis, which are brilliant concert pieced, noted for their musical value.
• It is learnt after a course in gitams.
• It is more complicated than the gitas.
• It consists of three sections – Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam.

Correct Answer is D.

• Jatiswaram is a musical form of Carnatic music belonging to the realm of dance music.
• It is similar to the svarajati in musical structure, but it has no sahitya or words.
• It is noted for its rhythmical excellence and the jati pattern used in it.

Correct Answer is A.

• Pada is a form of Carnatic music.
• These are known for their musical excellence and aesthetic appeal, are scholarly compositions in Telugu and Tamil.
• A padam also has the sections – Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam.
• The music is slow-moving, natural and dignified.

Correct Answer is B.

• Javal is a form of Carnatic music.
• These are composed in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil and they resemble the Thumris of Hindustani music.
• The Javalis are popular because of the attractive melodies.

Correct Answer is A & C.

• Varnam and Kirtanam both are form of Carnatic music.
• Varnam is called Varnam because many of the swara group patterns called ‘Varnas’ in ancient music.
• There are two types of varnams – Tana Varnam and Pada Varnam.
• Kirtanam originated in about the latter half of the 14^th century. Talapakam coposers of the 15^th century were the first to compose kirtanas with the sections, pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam.
• It is valued for the devotional content of the sahitya.

Correct Answer is D.

• Tillana is a Carnatic music. It constitutes the rhythmic syllables- ti, la and na. It is the liveliest of musical forma and is said to have originated in the 18^th century.
• It corresponds to the Tarana of Hindustani music. It usually begins with jatis. The Pallavi and Anupallavi consists of jatis and the Charanam has sahitya, jatis and svaras.

Correct Answer is B.

• Pallavi is a Carnatic music form. The term ‘Pallavi’ is coined from the initial syllables of the three words- Padam(words), Layam(time) and Vinyasam(variations).
• It is similar to the khayal of the Hindustani music. It may be on any theme, though the devotional is always preferred.
• In pallavi, neither the sahitya nor the music is precomposed and the singer has the choice to choose the sahitya, raga and tala.

Correct Answer is A.

• Tanam is a Carnatic music form. This is a branch of raga alapana.
• It is raga alapana in Madhyamakala or medium speed. There is perceptible rhythm in this.
• The rhythmical flow of music, flowing in fascinating patterns, makes tanam singing the most captivating part of raga exposition.