In south Indian classical (Carnatic) music the greatest modern composer is Tyagaraja (1767-1847), who interestingly was a contemporary of Beethoven. Tyagaraja w

In south Indian classical (Carnatic) music the greatest modern composer is Tyagaraja (1767-1847), who interestingly was a contemporary of Beethoven. Tyagaraja was prolific in a form of composition called a kriti, at once both structured as well as intense. The kriti eventually led to the modern Carnatic concert format, in the early twentieth century. Where concerts once used to be night-long expositions of virtuosity in rural temple festivals, the modern concert became a brisk 2 hour affair that catered to urban schedules. A couple of 'heavy' abstract pieces, then a few kritis serving as anchor, rounded off with several light blitz pieces (usually scorned by the cognoscenti).