Introduction
India’s musical heritage is vast and diverse, reflecting the country’s rich cultural history and regional identities. Broadly classified ianto Classical and Folk music, Indian music embodies a unique blend of spiritual, social, and cultural elements. These forms have evolved over millennia, shaped by religious practices, royal patronage, and the daily lives of ordinary people.
Let’s trace the different kinds of music that exist in India, both the classical traditions and folk traditions, tracing their origin, their characteristics, and with which instruments they live.
Classical Music in India
Indian classical music is one of the oldest continuing traditions in the world. It dates back to the Vedic period, where references can be found in the Samaveda – hymns that were sung during sacrificial rituals. In India, since the beginning, it was more of a gateway to spiritual enlightenment; with complexity, its forms reveal cosmic order and divine grace. Indian classical music comes under two major streams, namely Hindustani classical and Carnatic classical, respectively coming from north and south India.
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North Indian Hindustani Classical music
Hindustani classical music developed in North India after the Islamic conquests of the 12th century by retaining Persian and Afghan musical elements. However, this type of influence didn’t alter its Indian roots owing to the essence of spiritualism and the ancient concept of Raga and Tala.
Raga and tala are the two main elements of Hindustani Classical Music. A melodic structure indicating a specific mood or emotion, raga is the very soul of Hindustani music. Every raga is linked up with a particular time of day or season, thus linking it even more significantly with nature and spirituality. Differing from this, tala refers to the rhythmic framework of Hindustani music, generally complex and diverse. Some common talas in Hindustani music are Teental (16 beats) and Jhaptal (10 beats).
Major Types of Hindustani Music
- Dhrupad: Dhrupad is one of the most serious traditional forms of Hindustani music; thus, it is a devotional, meditative genre accompanied by purity of sound and austerity.
- Khyal: A more flexible and popular form that emphasizes improvisation. Khyal allows the artist to explore the raga’s emotional depth through expressive renditions.
- Thumri: A semi-classical form, Thumri has themes romantic and devotional, lighter in comparison to khayal, and is usually performed with accompaniment of dance.
- Tappa: Characterized by fast, complex rhythms it is a semi-classical form in Punjab, where there is often rapid singing and the later lively rhythm.
Suggested Read –Â Dhrupad and Dhriti: The Ancient Synthesis of Music and Philosophical Narratives
Hindustani music also uses a concept of Gharanas: a school of music, distinguished within regions and tradition.
- Gwalior Gharana: Basically Dhrupad-based, though Khyal singing precedes also.
- Patiala Gharana: It is distinguished by bold and chaste presentations of Khyal and Thumri.
- Kirana Gharana: It is known to develop a raga slowly, almost like a dream.
South Indian Carnatic Classical Music
Carnatic music originated in the southern states of India—Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. Like its northern counterpart Hindustani music, its bedrocks are raga and tala but Carnatic is much more lyrical and composition-oriented. Unlike Hindustani, Carnatic music is virtually all devotional, comprising singing and other forms of adoration for Hindu deities.
Just like Hindustani classical music, Raga and Tala are the cornerstone elements here as well. They are the heart of Carnatic music. But in comparison, Carnatic ragas are defined much more strictly and followed even more stringently. And Carnatic talas are mathematically complex, often also with complexities of subdividing the cycles. Some of the common ones are Adi Tala (8 beats) and Rupaka Tala (6 beats).
Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Syama Sastri are considered grand personalities in the Trinity of Carnatic Music, who gave important contributions to Carnatic compositions.
Major Categories:
- Kriti: Carnatic music, extremely popular and formalized form of, generally three formats: Pallavi, Anupallavi, and Charanam.
- Varnam: A short introductory piece that focuses both on the melody and rhythm of the raga.
- Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi: A highly improvisational and elaborate form, often the centerpiece of a Carnatic concert.Â
- Padam and Javali: AÂ lyrical text on love and devotion.
Folk Music in India
If classical music in India is about form and rigor, folk music is about spontaneity and community. With different types of music in India, each region of India also has its own folk music, rooted in daily life, seasonal changes, festivals, and stories passed down through generations. While classical music demands years of training, folk music is more accessible, performed by villagers, farmers, and tribal communities, often with little formal training.
Folk Music in North India
- Punjab: Folk forms here are full of energy. Punjab’s harvest season celebration Bhangra is accompanied by the drum called dhol and dance. Giddha is another traditional women’s music form in popularity, lots of claps and drums by women enact this.
- Uttar Pradesh: Folk forms are more in the nature of Kajri and Birha, which reflect the state’s agrarian and rural world. Kajri is a kavya form sung at the monsoons, talking about love and separation, whereas Birha talks about separation, pain and longings.
- Rajasthan: The desert state boasts the richest folk music tradition. Semi-classical music of Rajasthan is Maand, while Langas and Manganiyars are hereditary musician communities known for soulful performances, mostly singing love stories and epics.
Folk Music in East India
- Bengal: The mystic Baul singers of Bengal express philosophy in the universal love and spirituality of simple though profound music. “Bhatiyali-the boatmen’s songs capture the rhythm of life on Bengal’s rivers.”.
- Odisha: There are several folk music genres, among them the narratives Pala and Daskathia that narrate mainly mythological stories.
- Assam: The most popular folk form of Assam perhaps is Bihu, which complements the celebration of the Bihu festival. Another traditional form is Ojapali with narration on rhythmic accompaniment.
Folk Music in South India
- Karnataka: Folk music of Karnataka reflects the state’s rich cultural heritage, with vibrant traditions like Janapada Geethegalu (folk songs) and Yakshagana (a blend of music, dance, and drama). It celebrates rural life, local deities, and historical legends through unique rhythms and regional instruments like the Tamburi and Dollu.
- Tamil Nadu:Â In Tamil Nadu the narrative forms like Villupattu, sung while playing along with a bow-shaped musical instrument. The other common forms are Kummi and Kolattam that appear during festivals and village gatherings.
- Kerala: In Kerala music is ritualistic in character. Sopana Sangeetham of Kerala, played in the temples, is a thing of deep religiosity. Oppana, performed by women at Muslim weddings, forms another noisy and percussion-based form.
- Andhra Pradesh: Burrakatha is very popular in which everybody narrates different stories accompanied by music. It also includes speaking, and acting.
Folk Music in West India
- Maharashtra: Lavani is the most famous folk music, and it is often performed with accompanying dance; it is related mainly to romance and political satire. Powada narrates heroic deeds of the Maharashtrian rulers.
- Gujarat: In Gujarat, there are two popular forms of music and dance celebrated during Navratri: Garba and Dandiya Raas.
- Goa: Mando: an outsider Indian-Portuguese Mash-Up musical tradition of Goa, which reflects the colonial past of the area.
Folk Music in Central India
- Madhya Pradesh: The tribal music in Madhya Pradesh includes traditions like Pandavani, with a theme based on the stories of the Mahabharata. The songs sung by the Gond tribe, periodically reflecting the story of nature, hunting, or tribal life.
Folk Music in Northeast India
- Nagaland: Nagaland is indeed known for its choral singing tradition, where Naga tribes sing in harmony as they sing of valor and everyday life.
- Manipur: Folk Songs Nurture the Traditional Dance Form of the Same Name, Which Is a Narration of Epic Love and Legend.
Conclusion
Music, a reflection of both the people and the lands of India, varies in style-from rich and classical to very vibrant folk. The classical music, whether Hindustani or Carnatic, embodies centuries of tradition, philosophical quests, and spiritual currents: it commands great technical mastery and a commitment of years. In contrast, folk music is simple, spontaneous, and truly the music of the masses-it is tied to the rhythms of daily life. Together, these layer upon other sounds that represent and come alive with the rich and old nuances of India.Â
Suggested Story: Traditional Musical Instruments of India, Uphold the Spirit of Indian Classical Music
FAQs on Classical and Folk Music Traditions of India
What are the two main types of Indian classical music?
The two main types are Hindustani Classical Music from North India and Carnatic Classical Music from South India.
What is a raga in Indian classical music?
A raga is a melodic framework in Indian classical music, designed to evoke specific emotions and moods.
How is folk music different from classical music in India?
Folk music is regional, spontaneous, and tied to daily life, while classical music is formal, structured, and requires years of training.
Which instrument is commonly associated with Hindustani classical music?
The sitar is a popular instrument in Hindustani classical music, known for its deep, resonant sound.
What is Bhangra?
Bhangra is a lively and energetic folk music and dance form from Punjab, traditionally performed during harvest festivals.
Few Lines on Classical and Folk Music Traditions of India
- Indian classical music is deeply rooted in spirituality, with Hindustani and Carnatic traditions defining the North and South respectively.
- Hindustani classical music emphasizes improvisation, with Ragas and Talas forming its core structure.
- Carnatic classical music is more composition-based, focusing on devotional themes and intricate rhythmic patterns.
- Folk music in India is regionally diverse, reflecting the cultural traditions and daily lives of communities.
- Punjab’s Bhangra and Rajasthan’s Maand showcase North India’s vibrant folk music forms.
- Bengal’s Baul and Assam’s Bihu represent the spiritual and festival-oriented music of East India.
- India’s folk music is spontaneous and community-driven, contrasting with the formal rigor of its classical traditions.
