History of Classical Music Timeline

Jayadeva, the 12th-century poet, is counted among the great composer-poets of the Odissi music tradition, whose compositions helped shape the devotional classical music of the region.

Image source: Jayadeva

Purandara Dasa (1484–1564) was a Hindu composer and musicologist who lived in Hampi of the Vijayanagara Empire, becoming one of the most influential figures in South Indian classical music.

Image source: Purandara Dasa

The efforts of Purandara Dasa in the 16th century began the Carnatic style of Indian classical music, earning him recognition as the father of the Carnatic tradition.

Image source: Carnatic music

Tyagaraja (1759–1847) was one of the important historic scholars of Carnatic music, whose compositions remain central to the repertoire and practice of the South Indian classical tradition.

Image source: Tyagaraja

Syama Sastri (1762–1827) was among the important historic scholars of Carnatic music, celebrated alongside Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar as part of the Carnatic Trinity.

Image source: Syama Sastri

Muthuswami Dikshitar (1776–1827) was one of the important historic scholars of Carnatic music, known for his compositions that enriched the classical heritage of South India.

Image source: Muthuswami Dikshitar

The early 13th century Sanskrit text Sangitaratnakara ('Ocean of Music and Dance'), by Sarngadeva patronized by King Sighana of the Yadava dynasty in Maharashtra, mentions and discusses ragas and talas. It is regarded as the definitive text by both the Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions.

Image source: Sangita Ratnakara

The 13th century Sanskrit text Sangeeta-Ratnakara of Sarangadeva came to be regarded as the definitive text by both the Hindustani music and the Carnatic music traditions, unifying theoretical understanding across the subcontinent.

The classical music tradition of the ancient and medieval Indian subcontinent (modern Bangladesh, India, Pakistan) remained a generally integrated system through the 14th century, after which the socio-political turmoil of the Delhi Sultanate era isolated the north from the south.

The music traditions of North and South India were not considered distinct until about the 16th century, but after that the traditions acquired distinct forms, splitting into the Hindustani and Carnatic systems.

Some classical music texts were also composed by Buddhists and Jain scholars, and in the 16th century by Muslim scholars, reflecting the diverse religious contributions to Indian classical music theory.

The process of musical synthesis between Persian-Islamic and Indian traditions may have started in the 14th century courts of the Delhi Sultans, laying groundwork for what would become Hindustani classical music.

Image source: Delhi Sultanate

According to Nazir Ali Jairazbhoy, the North Indian tradition acquired its modern form after the 14th or the 15th century, developing its distinctive character separate from southern traditions.

Image source: Hindustani classical music

During this 16th century period, Tansen studied music and introduced musical innovations for about the first sixty years of his life with the patronage of the Hindu king Ram Chand of Gwalior, and thereafter performed at the Muslim court of Akbar.

Image source: Tansen

One of the earliest known discussions of Persian maqam and Indian ragas is by the late 16th century scholar Pundarika Vittala, documenting the interaction between Persian and Indian musical systems.

Image source: Vithoba

In 1941, Haidar Rizvi questioned prevailing theories and stated that influence was in the other direction: Middle Eastern maqams were turned into Indian ragas, such as Zangulah maqam becoming Jangla raga.

According to John Baily, professor of ethnomusicology, there is evidence that the traffic of musical ideas was both ways, because Persian records confirm that Indian musicians were part of the Qajar court in Tehran, an interaction continuing through the 20th century with import of Indian instruments in cities such as Herat.

Image source: Ethnomusicology