Social Science

Indian Music Traditions

3,251 Questions

Indian music traditions cover classical genres, regional folk music, ragas, and taals. These topics are frequently asked in state PSC, SSC, and UPSC examinations. Practice these questions to strengthen your understanding of music theory and cultural heritage.

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Indian Music Traditions Questions

Multiple choice

“Bhajan Sopori” is associated with

  1. hindustani instrumental music

  2. devotional songs

  3. small scale industries

  4. sports
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bhajan Sopori is a renowned Indian santoor player and composer associated with Hindustani instrumental music. He comes from the Sopori family lineage of Kashmiri musicians and has contributed significantly to classical music.

Multiple choice

Which of these statements is/are correct?

  1. Kitab-i-Nauras, a collection of songs in praise of Hindu deities and Muslim saints, was written by Ibrahim Adil Shah II.
  2. In India, Amir Khusrau was the originator of the musical style known as 'qawwali'.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ibrahim Adil Shah II was the ruler of Bijapur and wrote Kitab-i-Nauras. Amir Khusrau is known as the 'father of qawwali' in India.

Multiple choice

The author refers to the scale that “consists of seven chief tones” (line 9) in order to

Answer the question based on the following passage.

            The earliest inferences of woman's influence in music are 
            to be drawn from the Hindu mythology. According to the 
            ancient Brahminical records, music as an art belongs in the 
            second chief division of lesser sciences, but on its 
(5)        mathematical and philosophical side it is accorded a much 
            higher position, and is treated of in the oldest and most sacred 
            Hindu work, the Veda. The Hindu musical system of to-day 
            Is likewise ascribed largely to female sources. The scale 
            consists of seven chief tones, which are represented by as 
(10)      many heavenly sisters. The names of the tones (sa, re, ga, 
            ma, pa, dha, ni, corresponding to our do, re, mi, etc.) are 
            merely abbreviations of the names of the nymphs who preside 
            over them. In the traditions of ancient Egypt, music is entirely 
            under the patronage of male gods. There can be no doubt 
(15)       that woman played an important part in music, possibly even 
            in composition, in many civilizations which apparently allowed 
            her only a restricted field of action. The Empress of Germany 
            once defined woman's sphere as consisting of four subjects,—
            children, clothes, cooking, and church. The early Christian 
(20)      Church, too, afforded no encouragement for women to exert 
            their musical abilities. When the earliest meetings occurred in 
            the catacombs, the female members of the congregation took 
            their part in singing the hymns, but, when organized choirs 
            were formed, they were allowed no place. The singing-schools 
(25)      founded in Rome by the Popes Sylvester I. and Hilary, at the 
            end of the fourth century, were devoted solely to the training
           of male voices.        

  1. delineate the grounding of music in the ancient Brahminical records.

  2. stress the female orientation of music in a particular culture.

  3. surmise that music does not have any set principles like sciences.

  4. assert that music is more of a spiritual subject and connects people to God.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The answer is directly available in the lines: “The scale consists of seven chief tones, which are represented by as many heavenly sisters. The names of the tones ….. are merely abbreviations of the names of the nymphs who preside over them.”

Multiple choice business studies ancient indian economy sangam age society and culture in ancient tamizhagam: the sangam age our golden past

The ancient _______ songs are classified into Akampattukal and Purampattukal.

  1. Sanskrit

  2. Telgu

  3. Tamil

  4. Hindi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The ancient Tamil literature or the Sangam songs are broadly classified into Akampattukal and Purampattukal. Akampattukal mainly deals with love while the main theme of Purampattukal is the wars and eulogy of the king.

Multiple choice history government, society and culture under the delhi sultanate life under delhi sultanate arab invasions and delhi sultanate royal dynasties of rajasthan and mughals

Qawwali is a/an _______________.

  1. European style of chorus singing

  2. Indian style of chorus singing

  3. South Indian style of chorus singing

  4. Persian style of chorus singing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Qawwali is a chorus of hand-clapping qawwals who sing with an aim to lead the listeners to spiritual union with Allah. It is a form of music practiced by Sufis to inspire religious devotion and instruction. The Indian composer and Persian-language poet Amīr Khusrow is the popularly acknowledged creator of qawwali.

Multiple choice current trends of indian history modern indian history general knowledge

Consider the following statements regarding Hindustani Classical Music:
1. It consists of gharanas.
2. Thumri comes under the vocal forms of Hindustani music.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Hindustani Classical music is influenced by ancient Hindu musical traditions, Vedic philosophy (Rigveda, Yajurvedic chants), Natya Shastra (gives information on scales, melodic forms, tala and musical instruments) and also by the Persian elements. The major vocal forms associated with Hindustani classical music are the dhrupad, khayal, thumri, tappa, and tarana. Important Gharanas are Gwalior Gharana (oldest), Agra Gharana (founded by Khuda Baksh) and Jaipur Gharana (directly took off from Dhrupad), Rampur Saheswan Gharana (Uttar Pradesh).