|
In Rajasthan, music plays a very important role in the life of the people. One of the finest folk music in the world, its rhythm, melody and diversity will fascinate and mesmerize you. The real folk-song is not something to be read where the lyrics are read in a prosaic style. The real folk-song is not something to be read. The themes revolve around love, separation, heroism, patriotism, nature, seasons, festivals, rituals, customs and daily lives. The lyrics expressing the mundane, is also medium to reach the divine.
The Ragas
The most widely used ragas in Rajasthani folk songs are Bilawal, Kafi, Desh, Khamaj and Peelu. Some are in their pure forms and others in combinations.The folk songs nurture an element of Indian classical music knowing no rigid rules. The exclusive contribution of Rajasthani music to the classical music of India is Mand which is well recognized in classical circles.
The Taal
Rajasthani music makes use of six, seven or eight matras of tal on the dholak, tabla and nagara. The musical instruments used with folk songs help to keep the taal for the effective rendering of the music.
Musical Instruments
The musical instruments range from the soft tinklers to thunderous kettledrums, from simple flutes to fascinating trumpets. The Ravanhattha, ektara and sarangi are the stringed instruments used with folk-songs. There is a variety of instruments played by the mouth including the bansuri, algoza, satara, shehnai, toto, pungi, nad, bankia, conch and singi. Madal, mridang, changri, naubhat, dhumso, dafra, khanjari, dhibko, apang, matki and damru are the Tal instruments.
Folk Songs
Songs sung by women, are mostly about water and is cantered around the well, the style is called Panihari . Gorbund is a famous folk song which depicts the process of preparing a decorative string for a camel. The other folk songs are 'Indhani', 'Lawarji', 'Jallo', 'Hichaki', 'Olyun', 'Sapno', 'Kurjan' etc. Songs, laden with religious flavor, are sometimes folk idioms of Saints, Surdas, Kabirdas, Meerabai and others. Bhajans and Banis are very popular among the Harijans, Chamars, Bhanghis, Balais and Rahgars and mostly heard in night-long gatherings. In the ballad tradition, minstrels sing and narrate heroic tales of folk heroes like Tejaji, Gogaji and Ramdeoji and even of legendary lovers and their tragedies their tragedies.
Folk Musicians
Rajasthan has a number of communities whose hereditary profession is to sing to entertain people. Music traditions are kept alive by entertainer communities like the Langas, Manganniyars, Mirasis and Dholis. The education of music in these groups begins early and is passed down from generation to generation. The folk musicians are expert in classical tradition too. Other communities have contributed to the preservation and popularisation of folk music, are Fedalis, Kalawats and Qawwals, Tangas, Patars and Kanchari (Hindu and Muslim prostitutes), Nats, Rawals and Bhawais.
IndiaProfile.com offers all the information on Folk Music of Rajasthan. For more information, please enter your query in the form below.
| 