|
Traditional Classical Music of India
The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk,
popular, pop, and classical music. India's classical
music tradition, including Carnatic and Hindustani
music, has a history spanning millennia and, developed
over several eras, it remains fundamental to the lives
of Indians today as sources of religious inspiration,
cultural expression and pure entertainment. India is
made up of several dozen ethnic groups, speaking their
own languages and dialects, having very distinct
cultural traditions.
The two main traditions of classical music have
been Carnatic music, found predominantly in the
peninsular regions and Hindustani music, found in the
northern and central parts. While both traditions claim
Vedic origin, history indicates that the two traditions
diverged from a common musical root since c. 13th
century.
Hindustani Music
 Hindustani music is an Indian classical music tradition
that goes back to Vedic times, and further developed
circa the 13th and 14th centuries AD from existing
religious, folk, and theatrical performance practices.
The practice of singing based on notes was popular even
from the Vedic times where the hymns in Sama Veda, a
sacred text, was sung as Samagana and not chanted.
Developing a strong and diverse tradition over several
centuries, it has contemporary traditions established
primarily in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In contrast to Carnatic music, the other main Indian
classical music tradition originating from the South,
Hindustani music was not only influenced by ancient
Hindu musical traditions, Vedic philosophy and native
Indian sounds but also by the Persian performance
practices of the Mughals.
Carnatic
Music
 The present form of
Carnatic music is based on historical developments that
can be traced to the 15th - 16th centuries AD and
thereafter. From the ancient Sanskrit works available,
and the several epigraphical inscriptional evidences,
the history of classical musical traditions can be
traced back to about 2500 years. Purandaradasa is
credited with having founded today's Karnataka Music. He
systematized the teaching method by framing a series of
graded lessons such as swaravalis, janta swaras,
alankaras, lakshana geetas, prabandhas, ugabhogas,
thattu varase, geetha, sooladis and kritis. He
introduced the Mayamalavagaula as the basic scale for
music instruction. These are followed by teachers and
students of Carnatic music even today. Another of his
important contributions was the fusion of bhava, raga
and laya in his compositions.
Carnatic music is completely melodic, with improvised
variations. The main emphasis is on vocal music; most
compositions are written to be sung, and even when
played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in
a singing style (known as gāyaki). Like Hindustani
music, Carnatic music rests on two main elements: rāga,
the modes or melodic formulæ, and tāba, the rhythmic
cycles.
 Folk Music
India has a very rich tradition of folk music. The
extreme cultural diversity creates endless varieties of
folk styles. Each region has its own particular style.
There is a tendency to lump folk music along with tribal
music. There is actually a difference. Where folk music
is a mere rustic reflection of the larger Indian
society, tribal music often represents cultures that are
very different. Some of these tribal cultures are
throwbacks to cultural conditions as they were thousands
of years ago. Music in the villages is learned almost by
osmosis. From childhood the music is heard and imbibed
along with ones mother's milk. There are numerous public
activities that allow the villagers to sing
Bhavageet (literally 'devotional song') which is a form
of expressionist poetry and light music from times of
yore.
 Rajasthani Music
Rajasthani has a very diverse cultural collection of
musician castes, including Langas, Sapera, Bhopa, Jogi
and Manganiyar. Rajasthan Diary quotes it as a soulful,
full-throated music with Harmonious diversity. The
haunting melody of Rajasthan evokes from a variety of
delightfully primitive looking instruments. The stringed
variety include the Sarangi, Rawanhattha, Kamayacha,
Morsing and Ektara.Percussion instruments come in all
shapes and sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols to the
tiny Damrus. The Daf and Chang are a big favourite of
the Holi (the festival of colours) revellers. Flutes and
bagpipers come in local flavours such as Shehnai, Poongi,
Algoza, Tarpi, Been and Bankia.
The essence of Rajasthani Music is derived from the
creative symphony of string instruments, percussion
instruments and wind instruments accompanied by
melodious renditions of folk singers. It enjoys a
respectable presence in bollywood(Indian Film Fratenity)
Music as well.
 Bhangra Music
Bhangra is a lively form of music and dance that
originated in the Punjab region. As many Bhangra lyrics
reflect the long and often tumultuous history of the
Punjab, knowledge of Punjabi history offers important
insights into the meaning of the music. While Bhangra
began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it
eventually became a part of such diverse occasions as
weddings and New Year celebrations. Moreover, during the
last thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a surge in
popularity worldwide, both in traditional form and as a
fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, and reggae.
This folk music has become a pop sensation in the United
Kingdom and North America. As Bhangra continues to move
into mainstream culture, an understanding of its history
and tradition helps to appreciate it.
 Lavani Music
Lavani comes from the word Lavanya which means beauty.
This is one of the most popular forms of dance and music
that is practiced all over Maharashtra. It has in fact
become a necessary part of the Maharashtrian folk dance
performances. Traditionally, the songs are sung by
female artistes, but male artistes may occasionally sing
Lavanis. The dance format associated with Lavani is
known as Tamasha. Lavani is a combination of traditional
song and dance, which particulary performed to the
enchanting beats of 'Dholak', an drum like instrument.
Dance performed by attractive women wearing nine-yard
saris. They are sung in a quick tempo. The verve, the
enthusiasm, the rhythm and above all the very beat of
India finds an expressive declaration amidst the folk
music of India, which has somewhat, redefined the term
"bliss". Lavani is indeed one of the most important folk
dance forms of India. Originated in the arid region of
Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Lavani enlaced with its
color, dream and effervescence is somewhat like an
escape to the land of beauty and love.
 Dandiya Music
Dandiya is a form of dance-oriented folk music that has
also been adapted for pop music worldwide. The present
musical style is derived from the traditional musical
accompaniment to the folk dance of Dandiya called by the
same name, dandiya. (Dandiya means small sticks and are
used in place of swords to train and practice martial
art in form of dance by tribal in interior Gujarat in
India. it is believed to be in practice since the days
when Lord Krishna migrated from Mathura to Dwaraka.)
dandiya is a popular folk dance
 Qawwali
Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music popular on
the Indian subcontinent. It's a vibrant musical
tradition that stretches back more than 700 years.
Originally performed mainly at Sunni Sufi shrines
throughout the subcontinent, it has also gained
mainstream popularity. Qawwali is the traditional form
of Islamic song found in India and Pakistan. The word
qawwali is derived from the Arabic word Qaol which means
“axiom” or “dictum”. The qawwali is closely linked to
the spiritual and artistic life of northern India and
Pakistan. There is a very specific psychological process
which a qawwali follows. One starts with the singing of
the song. In this psychological state the song is
received in a manner that is not unlike standard forms
of musical expression. The words are sung, quite
tepeatedly with variations intended to bring out deeper
means of the lyrics. After awhile there is a repetition
to the extent that the words cease to have a meaning; it
is the ideal situation the participant is moved to a
state of spiritual enlightenment (fana).
 Filmi Music
India is the largest film producing country in the
world. It produces around 1,000 films in 27 official
languages. Every film must contain five to six songs
which are based either on classical Indian music or
light music. It also contains devotional songs. The
Indian audience loves music from films. There are number
of music recording studios based in different film
cities of India in Bangaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi,
Chennai and Noida Film City. Though popular film music
is not entirely synonymous with Hindi film music, Hindi
films are usually seen as adequately constituting the
"essence' of commercial Indian cinema. Since the early
1930s, there have been few Hindi films without songs. A
number of characteristics of Hindi film music and song
compel attention. First, Hindi film music has borrowed
unabashedly from all known styles and genres of music,
and much like Indian culture as a whole, refuses to
acknowledge the bankrupt concept of "copyright".
Everything is, to put it colloquially, fair game: thus
the borrowings are not only from Indian classical, folk,
and devotional music, but also from Western music. Hindi
film music is often set to large, Western-style
orchestras but songs are sung by what are termed
playback singers. Among the most well-known male
playback singers have been K. L. Saigal, Kishore Kumar,
Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, and Manna Dey; among the women,
the two dominant voices have been of Lata Mangeshkar and
her sister Asha Bhosle. |
contact@anonlineindia.com
00 + 91 + 9997 333 595
Music of India
Indian
musical instruments are very diverse in nature and are peculiar to
India. The most famous are the sitar and tabla. However there are
many more that the average person may not be familiar with. Most of
the Indian musical instruments have evolved over centuries. Each
instrument has its own history behind its evolution. Like any other
culture's evolution. In a culture's early stages, artifacts, musical
Instruments, and lifestyles are simple and basic in nature. Example:
all tribal instruments are basic rhythm instruments and never
complex instruments having a capacity to produce a range of octaves.
As a society progresses, the demands made on musical instruments
rise. Thus, most Indian instruments - although having started in
simple forms because of a long period of evolution - have now become
exquisite instruments capable of producing a varied pitch and range
of octaves. Example: Tabla must have started just as a plain drum.