[Listening extract audio not available in printed QP] In an Indian classical performance, a tambura sustains continuous notes while a sitar plays a short, r...
Question 1 Report
[Listening extract audio not available in printed QP]
In an Indian classical performance, a tambura sustains continuous notes while a sitar plays a short, repeating melodic pattern.
(a) Give the term for the sustained notes of the tambura. [1]
(b) Give the term for the short repeating melodic pattern. [1]
[Total: 2 marks]
Answer Details
(a) Drone [1]
In Indian classical music, a drone is a sustained, continuous sound that provides a fixed pitch reference throughout the performance. The tambura (also spelled tanpura) is the instrument most commonly used to supply this drone. It typically sustains the tonic (Sa) and dominant (Pa) notes, creating a constant harmonic backdrop against which the melodic instrument improvises. The drone is not a melody or a rhythm - it is a stable, unchanging layer that anchors the entire performance and defines the tonal centre (the raga's home pitch).
(b) Ostinato [1]
An ostinato is a short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that repeats persistently throughout a passage or entire piece. When the sitar plays a short, repeating melodic pattern over the tambura drone, this constitutes a melodic ostinato. The term comes from the Italian for "stubborn" or "persistent." Ostinato patterns are found across many musical traditions - in Indian classical music, Baroque ground bass compositions, minimalist works, and pop/rock riffs. The repetition creates a hypnotic, grounding effect that can build intensity or provide a stable foundation for improvisation above.
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