 Culture,
in India, although diverse and varied, still binds the country
together in some form of common identification. Indian dance
and music have played a remarkable role in this unification.
India has a great heritage of classical dance and music. Using
the body as a medium of communication, the expression of dance
is perhaps the most intricate and developed, yet easily understood
art form. Music too plays an important role in the Hindu religion.
The tradition of Indian music should be understood in the context
of Indian life and thought. It is known to be a mystical experience,
analogous to yoga.
Music
Qawwali
The classic Pakistani Qawwali music in its present form goes
back to the 12th century, and the poet as well as composer Amir.
But the qawwali music is perhaps even older. Qawwali, a sufi
and religious music is closely connected to Islam. It is classic,
but not in western meaning of the word. It is strictly built
up in different stages. All with verse and chorus. The first
stages activate the links with the living spiritual guides,
the next with the departed saints and at last with God (Allah).
It is believed that khayal form of music also originated from
the qawwali style of singing.
Folk Music
The true rhythm of India lies in its folk music - the music
of the masses. The extreme cultural diversity creates endless
varieties of folk styles. Every event of life has a unique folk
song associated with it - then be it festivals, advent of the
new season, birth of a child, or day-to-day affairs like teasing
one's loved one, admiring nature, etc. Music is an indispensable
component of functions such as weddings, engagements, and births.
There is a surfeit of songs for such occasions. The Indian folk
music has today reached out to touch the hearts of masses across
the globe with its melodious rhythm and endless energy.
Ghazal
Ghazal has its roots in classical Arabic poetry. Ghazal is
an Arabic word which literally means talking to women. It grew
from the Persian qasida, which verse form had come to Iran from
Arabia around the 10th century A.D. The qasida was a eulogy
written in praise of the emperor or his noblemen. The part of
the qasida called tashbib got detached and developed in due
course of Time into the Ghazal. India has produced some of the
exceptional talents in the field of ghazal singing like Begum
Akhtar, Jagjit Singh, Pankaj Udhas etc.
Classical Music
The two fundamental elements of Hindustani classical music
are raag and taal. Hindustani music is the music of North India,
involving both Hindu and Muslim musicians. It is intimately
associated with the north-Indian temple rituals and traces back
its existence in the Shastras or ancient treaties in Sanskrit.
The different forms of Hindustani music are - Dhrupad, Dhamar,
Khayal, Tappa and Thumri.
Indian Musical Instruments
Sitar
Probably the most popular string instrument from India is the
sitar. String instruments have gained popularity because strings
are considered to be the best accompaniment to singing, a prime
element of Indian music.
Sarod
Sarod is another popular stringed instrument. The body is carved
from a single piece of well-seasoned teakwood and the belly
covered with goat skin. There are four main strings, six rhythm
and drone strings and fifteen sympathetic strings, all made
of metal. These are played by striking with a plectrum made
of a coconut shell.
Sarangi
The name derives from Sau Rangi meaning 100 colours. It has
three to four main playing strings and about a dozen sympathetic
strings. The instrument has no frets orfingerboard; the strings
float in the air.
Esraj
Esraj is a combination between saringda and sitar. The base
of the instrument is like saringda while the neck and strings
are like sitar. It gives a sound very much like sarangi without
being as difficult to play. It is quite popular in West Bengal.
Tanpura
It has four strings tuned to the tonic. The tanpura is known
for its very rich sound. There are three main styles; the Miraj
style, the Tanjore style and the small instrumental version
someTimes called tamburi.
Santoor
Santoor is a North Indian instrument originating from Kashmir.
It has more than a hundred strings which run across a hollow
rectangular box and the strings are struck by a pair of slim
carved walnut mallets.
Vichitra Veena
The Vichitra Veena is a stringed instrument like the rudra
vina except it has no frets. It is played with a slide like
a Hawaiian guitar.
Violin
Violin was introduced to India about 300 years ago and is a
very important string instrument in the South of India. It is
played in a sitting position and is held between the right foot
and the left shoulder.
Tabla
Tabla is a pair of drums. It consists of a small right hand
drum called dayan and a larger metal one called bayan. The function
of the black spots on each of the playing surfaces is to create
the bell-like timbre that is characteristic of the instrument.
Pakhawaj
Pakhawaj is essentially a north Indian version of the mridangam
and is the most common north Indian representative of the class
of barrel shaped drums known as mridang. During the last few
generations tabla has usurped its position of importance.
Mridangam
Bears a strong superficial resemblance to pakhawaj but there
are major differences in construction and technique. It is the
most used drum in South Indian music.
Jal Tarang
This instrument is a set of china bowls that are filled with
water. Each bowl is struck with a light wooden mallet to cause
it to ring. Jal tarang is not very common and is normally found
in the accompaniment of Kathak dancers.
Dholak
Very popular folk drum of northern India. It is barrel shaped
with a simple membrane on the right hand side.
Pung
This is a long bodied drum with both ends covered in skin and
plays an important role in Manipuri dancing when it is played
by men and women, either in a sitting position or standing position.
Flute
Flute is found in every part of India, carved from bamboo it
is made in every possible size.
Shehnai
A double reeded wind instrument with a widening tube towards
the lower end. There are eight or nine holes, the upper seven
for playing and the lower ones fortuning. The Shehnai is considered
auspicious and is played on all festive occasions in India.
Indian Dances
Folk Dance
The Indian folk dance is simple without being naive, for behind
its simplicity lie both profundity of conception and a directness
of expression which are of great artistic value. The concept
of portraying emotion is generally speaking foreign to folk
dance and what is expressed is natural and original. What is
important here is not the grace of the individual dancer or
the virtuosity of the isolated prose, but the total effect of
the overwhelming buoyancy of spirit, and the eloquent, effortless
ease with which it is expressed. It has intimate relationship
with functions of daily life; Time-gathering, harvesting, rites,
rituals and beliefs. The popular folk dances of India are Ruk
Mar Nacha, Purulia Chhau, Rangoli Bihu, Singhi Chham, Karma,
Cheraw Dance, Hojagiri, Bardo Chham, Chang Lo, Lahoo and Thang
Ta in the East. Bhangra, Charkula, Ghoomar, Spaw Dance and Kinnauri
Nati in the North. Kalbelia Dance, Koli, Tarangmel, Dandiya
Raas, Garba, Tippani Dance, Panthi, The Padhar Dance, Dharmar
and Hamchi Dances in the West. Devarattam, Dollu Kunita, Thapetta
Gullu, Garadi, Lava Dance and Nicobarese Dance in the South.
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam, originating in Tamil Nadu, has movements of
pure rhythm, rendering a story dramatically in different moods.
For a long Time, Bharat Natyam was performed only in temples
by dancers in service of the temple, the devadasis. The dancers
must learn the language of gestures, mudras - so as to express
feelings, movements and characters in the stories which she
narrates through dance.
Kathak
The Kathak dance form originated in the north. The influence
of the Mughal tradition is evident in this dance form, and it
has a distinct Hindu-Muslim texture. The word Kathak, derived
from 'Katha', literally means storyteller. Today, the maestros
of this dance form include Birju Maharaj and Uma Sharma. Kathak
has an exciting and entertaining quality with intricate footwork
and rapid pirouettes being the dominant and most endearing features
of this style. The costumes and themes of these dances are often
similar to those in Mughal miniature paintings.
Kathakali
Kathakali, a well-developed dance-drama of Kerala is a performance
where the actors depict characters from the epics Ramayana and
Mahabharata and from the Puranas (ancient scriptures). The dancers
adorn themselves in huge skirts and headdress, wearing a most
intricate style of make-up. Kathakali draws heavily from drama
and is danced with elaborate masks and costumes. Like Bharatanatyam
Kathakali also needed a resurrection in the 1930s. The great
poet Vallathol rediscovered Kathakali, establishing the Kerala
Kalamandalam in 1932 which lent a new dimension to the art-form
in South India.
Manipuri
 Protected
for years in a valley of exceeding beauty, Manipuri is the art
expression of every man, woman and child of Manipur. The musical
forms of that culture reflect the worship of Vishnu. It is around
episodes from his life that the faith of the people is entwined.
The sanskirtan and the rass are revered musical traditions enacted
appropriately at different Times of the year by the community
as a whole. Manipuri is not aggressive. It is tender and almost
reticent on the one hand, and extremely vigorous on the other.
A continuity of movement and a restraint of power are underlying
features of the style.
Chakiarkotto
This dance form is believed to have been introduced to Kerala
by the early Aryan immigrants & is performed only by the
members of the Chkiar caste. A highly orthodox type of entertainment,
it can be staged inside temples only & witnessed by the
Hindus of the higher castes. The theatre is known as Koothambalam.
The story is recited in a quasi-dramatic style with emphasis
on eloquent declarations with appropriately suggestive facial
expressions & hand gestures. The only accompaniments are
the cymbals & the drum known as the mizhavu, made of copper
with a narrow mouth on which is stretched a piece of parchment.
Mohiniyattam
Mohiniyattam, the female semi-classical dance form of Kerala
is said to be older than Kathakali. Literally, the dance of
the enchantress, Mohiniyattam was mainly performed in the temple
precincts of Kerala. It is also the heir to Devadasi dance heritage
like Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi. The word 'Mohini'
means a maiden who exerts desire or steals the heart of the
onlooker. There is a well known story of Lord Vishnu taking
on the guise of a 'Mohini' to enthrall people, both in connection
with the churning of the milk ocean and with the episode of
slaying of Bhasmasura. Thus it is thought that Vaishnava devotees
gave the name of Mohiniyattam to this dance form.
Odissi
 The
ambience of Orissa, the philosophy of Lord Jagannath and the
sculpture of the 13th - century Sun Temple of Konarak, are reflected
in its dance form – Odissi. Perhaps the most lyrical style of
dance in India, Odissi follows unique body norms; the iconography
of a whole culture is echoed in its structure. The tribhanga,
a three-bend posture, interlinking a people’s philosophy with
the physical, is a series of triangles which are not only physically
difficult to execute, but which also call for immense restraint
and finesse on the part of the artist. The numerous postures
of the style reflect specific moods and adorn the carved panels
of the Konark Sun Temple.
Chhau
The Chhau dance is indigenous to the eastern part of India.
It originated as a martial art and contains vigorous movements
and leaps. Some Chhau dances use large stylized masks. The depiction
of birds and animals is a distinctive feature. There are also
heroic dances with sword, bow or shield, with which dancers
demonstrate their dexterity. In recent Times, Mayurbhanj Chhau
has become popular as a medium of choreography, with its wide
range of postures and movements that adapt well to modern as
well as traditional treatment.
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