Lullaby from India

Hinduism is an important religion in India; it also plays a huge influence in arts. India has a rich music culture; its music system is totally different from the Western music's system. (for example, they don't go by d-r-m-f-s-l-t-d') Therefore, you can expect that Indian music sounds very different from what our ears are used to. Let's start with a lullaby. The following lullaby, Krishna, an Indian god, and his mother.

The SITAR is a plucked stringed instrument commonly used in Indian music; it is like a guitar with 21, 22 or 23 strings. One of the most famous sitar player in history is Ravi Shankar (born 1920), who also brought sitar music to European countries. Let's lisetn to his performance.



The Tabla drum is also very important to Indian music. Let's hear a demonstration introduced by Ravi Shankar. You will start to notice how differently the Indian musicians feel rhythms.  Please click HERE to learn some of the most popular Indian tala.  (For teachers, click to view an Indian Music Worksheet)

The Western world is inspired by Ravi Shankar's virtuostic playing. Perhaps his musical gene is in his blood; he has definitely passed his musicality onto his daughter. Miss Shankar has established a very successful singing career in the USA; we know her as Norah Jones. You may click HERE to hear a lullaby that's from her 2007 album "Note too late."