The Music of Hindostan c10.101

c10.101

Now Indian songs, and probably other non-harmonic songs, are seldom sung twice in the same way, however small the variation each time. Some singers would tend to give prominence to the G of I, some to the A of II. There would also be many songs similar to this one which might be considered to be in mode I or mode II according to the particular singer. These would form a class; and the class would depend largely on the character of the words—sad songs in one class, merry in another, and so on. The words of this particular song are of a reflective nature. And reflection is associated with a low ‘lie’ of the voice. So that songs in these modes might well keep the G, or the A, for their Predominant if jubilant, but if reflective might drag it down to the consonant (*samvādi*) note D, or E.