South Asian and Celtic musical fusions

Key learning points

1. There are many examples of musical fusion between Western musical styles and music from the Indian subcontinent.
2. These usually mix typical instruments (such as sitar, tanpura and tabla), rhythms and melodies from the styles.
3. The same is the case with the traditional Celtic music of Scotland and Ireland.
4. Celtic melodies and instruments including the fiddle, tin whistle and accordion are used in fusion with other styles.
5. Jazz, rock and electronic are some of the more common Western styles that are fused with Celtic and South Asian styles.

Keywords

• Indian subcontinent - The Indian subcontinent is a region in South Asia that consists primarily of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

• Tabla - A tabla is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Its distinct timbre includes high and low tones.

• Sitar - A sitar is a stringed instrument from the Indian subcontinent that is often used in specific styles.

• Tanpura - A tanpura is a stringed instrument that creates a constant 'drone' sound. This is common in some styles of Indian music.

• Celtic - Scotland, Ireland and Wales are often referred to as the Celtic nations, due to their historical links with the Celtic people.

Common misconception