๐ Chapter 05 ยท PYQs ยท Classical Music
Classical Music โ Previous Year Questions
UPSC, APPSC, and TGPSC previous year questions on Indian classical music with detailed answers.
With reference to the Indian classical music, the “Khayal” is:
- A) A type of percussion instrument
- B) A vocal form of Hindustani classical music
- C) A dance form of South India
- D) A type of raga
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Answer: B โ Khayal is the dominant vocal form of Hindustani classical music. It replaced dhrupad as the most popular form from the 18th century onwards. It allows greater improvisation than dhrupad.
Consider the following pairs: (1) Dhrupad โ Hindustani classical music (2) Kriti โ Carnatic classical music (3) Thumri โ Carnatic classical music. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- A) 1 only
- B) 1 and 2 only
- C) 2 and 3 only
- D) 1, 2 and 3
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Answer: B โ Dhrupad is a form of Hindustani classical music; Kriti is the primary compositional form of Carnatic music. Thumri is a semi-classical form of Hindustani music (not Carnatic).
The nadaswaram is a wind instrument associated with which tradition?
- A) Hindustani classical music
- B) Carnatic classical music and South Indian temple music
- C) Folk music of Rajasthan
- D) Tribal music of Northeast India
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Answer: B โ The nadaswaram (also called nagaswaram) is a double-reed wind instrument associated with Carnatic classical music and South Indian temple ceremonies. It is considered auspicious and is played at temples and weddings.
With reference to the Hindustani classical music, which of the following statements is correct?
- A) It developed in South India
- B) It was unaffected by Persian and Islamic influences
- C) It developed in North India and was influenced by Persian and Islamic music
- D) It uses the mridangam as its primary percussion instrument
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Answer: C โ Hindustani classical music developed in North India and was significantly influenced by Persian and Islamic musical traditions, particularly during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods.
Tyagaraja, one of the Carnatic music Trinity, composed primarily in which language?
- A) Sanskrit
- B) Telugu
- C) Tamil
- D) Kannada
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Answer: B โ Tyagaraja composed primarily in Telugu, though he also composed some works in Sanskrit. He is considered the greatest composer of Carnatic music.
The sitar was developed in India in the:
- A) 10th century CE
- B) 12th century CE
- C) 13th century CE
- D) 16th century CE
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Answer: C โ The sitar is believed to have been developed in the 13th century CE, attributed to Amir Khusrau who modified the veena by adding Persian elements. It became the dominant chordophone of Hindustani classical music.
The Bihu music and dance tradition is associated with which state?
- A) West Bengal
- B) Manipur
- C) Assam
- D) Meghalaya
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Answer: C โ Bihu is the folk music and dance tradition of Assam, associated with the Bihu harvest festival. There are three types of Bihu: Rongali (spring), Kongali (autumn), and Bhogali (winter).
Ustad Bismillah Khan was associated with which musical instrument?
- A) Sarod
- B) Sitar
- C) Shehnai
- D) Sarangi
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Answer: C โ Ustad Bismillah Khan was the most celebrated shehnai player in India. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001 and is credited with bringing the shehnai from temple and folk settings to the concert stage.
The Kirana gharana of Hindustani classical music is associated with which state?
- A) Uttar Pradesh
- B) Karnataka/Maharashtra border region
- C) Rajasthan
- D) West Bengal
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Answer: B โ The Kirana gharana originated in Kirana (now in Haryana/UP border), but its most famous exponents โ Abdul Karim Khan and Abdul Wahid Khan โ were from the Karnataka-Maharashtra region. It is known for its slow, meditative style.
The Baul music tradition of West Bengal was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in which year?
- A) 2001
- B) 2008
- C) 2010
- D) 2016
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Answer: B โ Baul music was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 (it was first proclaimed a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2005).