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3 Differences Between Eastern and Western Music

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Northern School of Music

Music is something that everyone enjoys. Some people enjoy listening to classical music while others enjoy listening to folk music as a way to pass the time and have fun. But only a small percentage of music listeners are aware of the variations in genres. People decided to sign up for online western music classes only by seeing how well-liked it is throughout the world instead of showing interest in eastern music. To improve our abilities, nevertheless, we need also to study eastern music. Let's now define the distinctions between eastern and western music to show that they both have different significance and we should study them both to enhance our career prospects in the music industry.

Definition of eastern and western music

· Eastern or Indian Music - Classical music from India is referred to as eastern music. It is a combination of two types of Indian music: Carnatic music from South India and Hindustani music from North India. Even though they have considerable distinctions, both may be seen as the foundation of the eastern classical music scene.

 

· Western Music - The term "Western music" refers to music that has its roots in the American West and respects the cultures of Europe, the United States, and other countries that were settled by immigrants from Europe. The roots of Western music may be located throughout the 19th-century frontier era. In contrast to Indian classical music, it uses equal temperament notes and major and minor scales.

Differences between eastern and western music

1. Culture - Indian music may be broadly categorized into the two main traditions of North Indian music and South Indian music in its traditional form. Carnatic is the name given to the classical music of South India, whereas Hindustani is the name given to that of North India. Western music, on the other hand, is a kind of art music that emphasizes the presence of societies that were established by European immigrants, including the United States, Europe, and other nations.

 

2. Melody/Harmony - Raga and tala are the main musical instruments used in Indian classical music. The raga is a melodic framework made up of several “swaras”, whereas the basis of rhythm, or tala, upholds the time cycle. Indian music is made up of melodies or only a few notes played in a certain order. Western music, on the other hand, emphasizes harmony and liberally employs tonic progression and counterpoint. Western music is composed using standardized notation, therefore it must be performed exactly as it is written.

 

3.Nature and spirituality - Compared to western classical music, eastern classical music and nature are more closely related. Eastern raags correspond to different times of the year and seasons. Western classical music, on the other hand, lacks such a link. The spiritual base of eastern music is also more robust than that of western classical music, which is more secular.

 

Conclusion - There are many more distinctions than those described above if you look attentively at both musical notes. Deciding to learn western music through online western music classes would be a great choice. However, if you want to become a more versatile performer in the music industry in the future, you can think about learning eastern music too.


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