The fundamental format of Carnatic songs is the вЂњkritiвЂќ or composition, which are usually set in the style of a raga (the raga serves as the melodic foundation). Carnatic music is mostly vocal and devotional in nature and played with instruments such as the mridangam drum, the ghatam clay pot, and the violin or veena. They are based on seven rhythmic cycles and 72 fundamental ragas. The most common instruments used in Hindustani Classical music are sitar, sarod, flute, and sarangi.Д¬arnatic (Southern Indian) ragas constitute one of the oldest systems of music in the world. When a raga is accompanied by percussion (such as a tabla), the rhythm is often rather intricate because it is constructed from a combination of fundamental rhythmic patterns (or talas).

Unlike western classical music that is deterministic, Indian classical music allows for a much greater degree of вЂњpersonalizationвЂќ of the performance, almost to the level of jazz-like improvisation. Indian classical music is based on the ragas, which are scales and melodies that provide the foundation for a performance. The North Indian classical music is known as Hindustani Sangeet, while the south Indian classical music is called Carnatic music. Today there are two major traditions of classical music. But with the invasion of the Mughals, the music of north and central India blended with the Mughal influences of Arabia and Persia, bringing into being Hindustani music. Prior to the 13th century, there was primarily one type of musical form. IndiaвЂ™s music is a combination of vocal music, instrumental music, and dance called Sangeet. One of oldest music forms known as Sama was developed during the Vedic period which stretched from 1500 to 500 BC. IndiaвЂ™s musical history dates back to the prehistoric times and is in fact regarded as one of the oldest in the world. McAllister Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas Shachi Daru, Swetha Kotamraju, Maya Iyer, Kavita Venkateswar, Dancer

Renuka Rege, Jahnavi Shriram, Mohini Dasari, Pooja Nagarkar Sujata Venkateswar, Aamuktha Karla, Madhuri Venkateswar, Vocals

Uthra Suresh, Madhuri Venkateswar, Anand Srinivas, Back Up Vocals

Indian song