Historical Development of Instruments and Instrumental Music
What this domain covers
This section tests chronology and contribution: which text, author, court, or musician is associated with a development in Indian instrumental music. Questions often ask you to place an event in the correct century or to distinguish documented history from legend.
Core rules
- Bharata's Natyashastra (roughly 2nd century BCE–2nd century CE) is the earliest major treatise; it discusses vina, flute, and mridang.
- Matanga's Brihaddeshi (c. 8th–9th century) is important because it defines raga and distinguishes marga from desi music.
- Sarngadeva's Sangita Ratnakara (13th century) systematises raga, tala, and instruments; it is a key medieval source.
- The medieval bhakti and court periods saw the rise of dhrupad, the rudra veena, and later the sitar and sarod. Amir Khusrau (13th century) is traditionally credited with experiments that led to the tabla and sitar, but these attributions are legendary and should be labelled as tradition, not proof.
- Tansen (16th century), in Akbar's court, is central to the Senia tradition; his guru was Swami Haridas. Instrumental lineages later include the Maihar gharana.
- Nineteenth- and twentieth-century reform: V. N. Bhatkhande systematised Hindustani notation and musicology; V. D. Paluskar founded the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya (1901) and promoted institutional teaching.
Worked example
"Which text first defines raga and why is it important?" Reasoning: the answer is Brihaddeshi by Matanga. It is not the Natyashastra, which is earlier but does not use raga in the later technical sense. The point is the definition and the marga/desi distinction, not a list of ragas.
Traps
Do not say Tansen invented the sitar as fact; say "traditionally credited". Do not mix Bhatkhande and Paluskar. Do not date the Natyashastra to the Mughal period. Do not confuse Sangita Ratnakara with Sangeet Parijat.