Maharashtra HSC Vocal Classical Music study guide
Maharashtra HSC Vocal Classical Music · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Maharashtra HSC Vocal Classical Music examination is the Higher Secondary Certificate subject in Hindustani vocal music offered through the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. It is taken by Class 12 students who have studied music as an elective, and it also interests candidates preparing for university music degrees or pursuing performance seriously. The Maharashtra HSC Vocal Classical Music study guide has 9 sections and about 3,044 words.
01Raga Knowledge and Classification
This domain tests whether you can place a raga inside Bhatkhande's thata scheme, name its vadi and samvadi, declare its jati and time, and separate a parent scale from a living raga. Bhatkhande grouped Hindustani scales into ten thatas: Bilaval, Khamaj, Kafi, Asavari, Bhairavi, Bhairav, Kalyan, Marwa, Poorvi and Todi.
342 words, about 2 min02Tala Knowledge and Rhythmic Theory
This domain tests your grip on the cyclical framework of Hindustani rhythm: how many matras a tala carries, where its vibhags, tali and khali fall, and how laya and layakari are calculated. Matra is one beat; vibhag is a division of the cycle; tali is a clap marking a vibhag; khali is a wave marking an empty vibhag; sam is the first matra and the point of resolution; avartan is one complete cycle; theka is the tabla's syllable pattern.
350 words, about 2 min03Notation Systems and Writing Notation
This domain tests whether you can read and write swar lipi with correct symbols, correct vibhag marks, and a clear statement of raga, tala and laya. Bhatkhande's notation, set out in Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati, writes shuddha notes as S R G M P D N.
372 words, about 2 min04Practical Performance: Khayal, Tarana and Bandish
This domain tests your understanding of the composed khayal, its ornamented elaboration, and the tarana as a distinct form. Bada khayal is vilambit and usually set in Ektaal, Tilwada, Jhoomra or Chautal; chhota khayal is drut and usually in Teental, Jhaptal, Ektaal or Rupak.
345 words, about 2 min05Semi-classical and Devotional Forms: Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan, Ghazal
This domain tests whether you can separate the light-classical and devotional forms by their language, tala, structure and emotional register. Thumri is the foremost light-classical form, sung most often in Khamaj, Bhairavi, Pilu, Desh and Tilang.
356 words, about 2 min06Voice Culture, Swara Sadhana and Performance Practice
This domain tests how you build, protect and train the voice, and how swara sadhana is organised in daily practice. Sing from the diaphragm, not the collarbone.
330 words, about 2 min07History of Hindustani Music, Gharanas and Musicians
This domain tests the historical arc of Hindustani music, the main gharanas, and the musicians and reformers the syllabus expects you to place correctly. Samaveda supplies the chant tradition; Bharata's Natyashastra supplies the early theory of raga and rasa; Sharangadeva's Sangeet Ratnakara of the thirteenth century codifies prabandha, tala and shruti.
334 words, about 2 min08Acoustics, Instruments and Accompanying Artists
This domain tests the physics behind the sound, the instruments that carry the music, and the accompanists a candidate should be able to name. Sound is a longitudinal wave; frequency gives pitch, amplitude gives loudness, and the harmonic spectrum gives timbre.
327 words, about 2 min09Aesthetics, Rasa and Music Appreciation
This domain tests rasa theory and your ability to explain why a performance moves a listener. Bharata's Natyashastra names eight rasas, shringar, hasya, karuna, raudra, veer, bhayanaka, bibhatsa and adbhuta; shanta is added as the ninth, giving navarasa.
288 words, about 1 min