ICSE Class 10 Question Paper 2026 Carnatic Music

ICSE | Class 10

Carnatic Music
Question Paper 2026

Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE)

Free Syllabus · Sample Papers · Previous Year Papers · Solutions & more


· ICSE · ISC · CBSE · State Boards

CARNATIC MUSIC

Maximum Marks: 100

Time allowed: Two hours

1. Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.

2. You will not be allowed to write during the first 15 minutes.

3. This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.

4. The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.

5. Attempt all questions from Section A and any four questions from Section B.

6. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets[ ].

Instruction for the Supervising Examiner

Kindly read aloud the Instructions given above to all the candidates present in the
Examination Hall.

This paper consists of 8 printed pages.
T26 921 Turn Over
© Copyright reserved.

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 1 of 8

SECTION A (20 Marks)
(Answer all questions from this Section.)

Question 1 [20]

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options.

(Do not copy the questions. Write the correct answers only.)
(i) What type of wood is most commonly used to make the fingerboard of a Violin?

(a) Maple

(b) Rosewood

(c) Ebony

(d) Mahogany

(ii) Which of the following disciples presented the paintings of Rama to Thyagaraja
during his daughter’s marriage?

(a) Manambuchavadi Venkata Subbaiar

(b) Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavatar

(c) Veena Kuppaiar

(d) Subbaraya Sastri

(iii) Which one of the following composers is specialised in composing Madhyama
Kala Sahityas in his compositions?

(a) Muthuswami Dikshitar

(b) Aruncahala Kavi

(c) Papanasam Sivan

(d) Syama Sastri

T26 921 2

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 2 of 8

(iv) Who is said to have given the book Svararnava to Saint Thyagaraja?

(a) Vishwamitra

(b) Atri

(c) Brihu

(d) Narada Muni

(v) Who composed ‘Tanda nana Ahi Tanda nana pure’ in Bowli raga?

(a) Thyagaraja

(b) Tallapakka Annamayya

(c) Muthuswami Dikshitar

(d) Swati Tirunal

(vi) Who among the following is the Master of composing Padam?

(a) Kshetrajna

(b) Jayadeva

(c) Narayana Tirtha

(d) Arunachala Kavi

(vii) Identify the Opera composed by Narayana Tirtha from the following.

(a) Nandanar Charitram

(b) Gita Govindam

(c) Ramanatakam

(d) Krishna Leela Tarangini

T26 921 3 Turn Over

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 3 of 8

(viii) Statement I: The Gottuvadyam is played by using six main strings.

Statement II: The Veena is played by using four main strings.

(a) Both statements I and II are correct.

(b) Both statements I and II are incorrect.

(c) Statement I is correct and Statement II incorrect.

(d) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct.

(ix) The total aksharakala for Misra Jati Ata tala is 18.

(a) True

(b) False

(x) Which one of the following composers was imprisoned for misusing
government property?

(a) Narayana Tirtha

(b) Bhadrachala Ramadasa

(c) Tallapakka Annamayya

(d) Purandaradasa

(xi) Which one of the following composers was a King and also a Vaggeyyakara?

(a) Veena Kuppaiar

(b) Purandaradasa

(c) Swati Tirunal

(d) Kshetrajna

T26 921 4

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 4 of 8

(xii) Match the following:

A. Kshetrajna 1. Gopaladasa

B. Veena Kuppaiar 2. Varada Venkatesa

C. Patnam Subramanya Iyer 3. Padmanabha

D. Swati Tirunal 4. Muvva Gopala

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(a) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

(b) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

(c) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

(d) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3

(xiii) In a concert, the pitch of the Mridangam is tuned to the identical pitch of the
vocalist.

(a) True

(b) False

(xiv) Identify the composers from the picture:

(a) Arunachalakavi, Papanasam Sivan and Gopalakrishna Bharati

(b) Purandaradasa, Annamayya and Kshetrajna

(c) Jayadeva, Narayana Tirta and Swati Tirunal

(d) Muthuswami Dikshitar, Thyagaraja and Syama Sastri

T26 921 5 Turn Over

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 5 of 8

(xv) Statement I: The Gottuvadyam is kept on the floor in front of the performer
and played.
Statement II: The Veena is played with the kudam resting on the floor, while
the smaller resonator is positioned on the performer’s left thigh.
(a) Statement I and II both are correct.
(b) Statement I and II both are incorrect.
(c) Statement I is correct and Statement II incorrect.
(d) Statement I is incorrect and Statement II is correct.
(xvi) Which one of the following composers incorporated proverbs into his
compositions?
(a) Gopalakrishna Bharati
(b) Arunachala Kavi
(c) Papanasam Sivan
(d) Arunagiri
(xvii) Who is the composer of the Navaratri Kritis?
(a) Muthuswami Dikshitar
(b) Thyagaraja
(c) Swati Tirunal
(d) Syama Sastri
(xviii) Which of the following composers had an interaction with Annamacharya?
(a) Thyagaraja
(b) Govinda Dikshitar
(c) Kshetrajna
(d) Purandaradasa

T26 921 6

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 6 of 8

(xix) Identify the instruments from the pictures:

(a) Upa pakka vadyam-Pradhana pakka vadyam

(b) Primary vadyam-pakka vadyam

(c) Pakka vadyam-primary vadyam

(d) Primary vadyam-primary vadyam

(xx) What type of wood is most commonly used to make the Kudam of a Veena?

(a) Guava wood

(b) Jack wood

(c) Mango wood

(d) Rosewood

SECTION B (80 Marks)
(Answer any four questions from this Section.)

Question 2 [20]
Write the life history of the composer who is known as Navakoti Narayana and Sangita
Pita Maha.

T26 921 7 Turn Over

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 7 of 8

Question 3 [20]
Explain the construction and the playing method of Tambura with a diagram and label the
parts.

Question 4
(i) Write the classification of Wind instruments. [10]

(ii) Draw a diagram of a Wind instrument and label the parts. [5]

(iii) Explain : Atata, Vitata, Atata Vitata Vadya. [5]

Question 5 [20]
Write in Notation: Any Adi Tala Varnam.

Question 6
Briefly describe the following works:

(i) Nandanar Chartiram [10]

(ii) Ramanatakam [10]

Question 7 [20]
Write short notes on the following:

(i) Madhyama Kãla Sahitya

(ii) Swaraksharam

(iii) Tuning method of a Violin

(iv) Sound post

T26 921 8

ICSE Class 10 · Question Paper 2026 · Carnatic Music Page 8 of 8