Music of Rajasthan

This type of music originates from theRajasthan,one of the states of India and home to several important centers ofIndian musicaldevelopment, includingUdaipur,JodhpurandJaipur.The region's music shares similarities both with nearby areas of India and the other side of the border, in thePakistaniprovince ofSindh.

Overview

Rajasthan has a diverse collection of musician castes, including langas, Sapera,Bhopa,andManganiar.There are two traditional classes of musicians: theLangas,who stuck mostly exclusively toMuslimaudiences and styles, and theManganiars,who had a more liberal approach.

Rajasthani artists

Traditional music includes the women'sPaniharisongs, which lyrically describes chores, especially centered on water and wells, both of which are an integral part of Rajasthan's desert culture. Other songs, played by various castes, normally begin with thealap,which sets the tune and is followed by a recital of a couplet (dooba). Epic ballads tell tales of heroes likeDevnarayan Bhagwan,Gogaji,Ramdeoji,PabujiandTejaji.The celebration of changing seasons is also very central to folk music of Rajasthan. Celebration of the coming of theMonsoonor the harvest season are central to most traditional folk songs. Songs also revolve around daily activities of the local people-- for instance, a song about not sowing Jeera (Cumin) as it is difficult to tend. Or, for instance, another song about Podina (Mint) and how it is liked by various members of the family (an allegorical reference to a local liquor extracted from mint is also made). Every day common themes are the center of traditional rajasthani folk music.

One of the most famous RajasthaniMaandsingers isAllah Jilai Baiof the Bikaner Gharana.

• Allah Jilai Bai
• Kutle Khan
• Kheta Khan
• Mame Khan
• Seema Mishra
• Prakash Mali
• Satkeer
• Chotu Singh Rawna
• Anupriya Lakhawat
• Hemraj Goyal
• Dapu Khan
• Ila Arun

See also

• Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
• Rapperiya Baalam
• Musical Instruments of Rajasthan
• Veena Music

References

• Monograph on Langas: a folk musician caste of Rajasthan.by Komal Kothari. 1960.
• Folk musical instruments of Rajasthan: a folio,by Komal Kothari. Rajasthan Institute of Folklore, 1977.
• Bards, ballads and boundaries: an ethnographic atlas of music traditions in West Rajasthan,by Daniel Neuman, Shubha Chaudhuri, Komal Kothari. Seagull, 2007.ISBN1-905422-07-5.