A Gem in India’s Crown Classical music in India stands as one of the brightest gems adorning the nation’s cultural crown. At a time when many nations were still rooted in folk music traditions, India had already evolved a complex and magnificent system of art-music. The Seven-Note Foundation: Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni One of the most profound markers of that system is the set of seven basic notes — sa, ri (or re), ga, ma, pa, dha (or da), ni . These are analogous to solfège