Hindustani classical music ([hin̪d̪us̪t̪ɑːn̪i]) is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music. The style is sometimes called North Indian classical music or Shāstriya Sangīt or Klāsikī Mausīqī. It is a tradition that originated in Vedic ritual chants and has been evolving since the 12th century CE, in North India and to some extent in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. Today, it is one of the two subgenres of Indian classical music, the other being Carnatic music, the classical tradition of South India.

Characteristics

The tradition was born out of a cultural synthesis of several musical traditions: the Vedic chant tradition, dating back to more than three thousand years ago, various external influences from the 12th century AD from when it started to evolve, as well as various native folk traditions prevalent in the Subcontinent region.

It is traditional for performers who have reached a distinguished level of achievement to be awarded titles of respect; Hindus are usually referred to as pandit and Muslims as ustad. An aspect of Hindustani music going back to Sufi times is the tradition of religious neutrality: Muslim ustads may sing compositions in praise of Hindu deities, and vice versa.