A Place for Music Evolution of Performance Spaces for Hindustani Classical Music

Authors: Ashish Tiwari; Anirudh Shankar

Abstract

The very complex art form known as Hindustani Classical Music emerged in the northern region of India. It is characterized by simultaneous composition and performance of musical pieces. Through millennia of development, the many civilizations that settled in India during the late medieval period carried with them their own spatial notions of music, which had a significant impact on the development of Hindustani Classical music. As a substantial part of the music is improvised, it is vulnerable to changes in the spatial environment, which might have an effect on the musician's state of mind. Tracking the development of concert halls and other performance venues for music may provide light on the growth of musical genres. This paper sheds light on the spatial features that played a crucial role in the evolution and continuation of various music genres and how they were impacted by those qualities.

The capacity of each form of art to elicit a feeling or reaction from the person experiencing it is the common thread that runs through them all. The alignment of the rasa, or emotional essence, of the music, the images that it generates, and the actual environment in which it is performed results in the most deep experience possible while listening to music. There is an ongoing conversation taking place between music and architecture, and the goal of this conversation is to evoke an emotional and evocative reaction in the listeners and performers present in the venue where the music is being performed. This is investigated in the research by focusing on some of the more

well-known subgenres of Dhrupad, Thumri, and Khayal. In order to interpret and draw conclusions from the results, the study makes use of historical information, first-hand experiences, and talks with musicians. The paper also offers criticism of the increasing prevalence of generic performance spaces. It is essential, therefore, to call attention to the factors that contributed to the growth and development of music in particular venues in the past and to preserve these venues as locations where musicians of the future can conduct research and draw inspiration.

Keywords: Architecture, Hindustani Classical Music, Thumri, khayal, Dhrupad, Performance spaces, Rasa