Music of Bangladesh
| Music of Bangladesh | |
|---|---|
| Genres | |
| Specific forms | |
| Religious music | |
| Ethnic music | |
| Traditional music | |
| Media and performance | |
| Music awards | |
| Music festivals | |
| Music media |
Radio Television Internet |
| Nationalistic and patriotic songs | |
| National anthem | Amar Shonar Bangla |
| Other | Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano |
| Regional music | |
| Related areas | |
| Other regions | |
From ancient times[when?], music in Bangladesh has served the purpose of documenting the lives of the people and was widely patronized by the rulers. Since the 20th century, music in Bangladesh has been increasingly influenced by western popular music.
The three main categories of Bangladeshi music are Classical, folk and Western-influenced pop.[1]
Contents |
Classical [edit]
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2012) |
Bangladeshi classical music is based on modes called ragas (rag, in Bengali). All traditional Bengali music tend to be based on various variations of Hindustani Classical Music. Rabindra sangeet (based on the work of the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore) is one of the best-known genres of Bengali music outside Bangladesh.
Folk [edit]
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2012) |
Bengali folk has become an important musical influences in the lives of Bengalis on both sides of the (West Bengal-Bangladesh) border. Among these are Lalon Fokir, Hason Raja, Ramesh Shill and Abbas Uddin. All folk songs are characterised by simple musical structure and words. Before the advent of radio, entertainment in the rural areas relied to a large extent on stage performances by folk singers. After the arrival of new communication and digital media, many folk songs were modernised and incorporated into modern songs (Adhunik songeet).
Folk music can be classified into several sub-genres:
- Baul: mainly inspired by Lalon Fokir and almost exclusively performed by hermits
- Bhandari: devotional music from the South (mainly Chittagong)
- Bhatiali: music of fishermen and boatman, almost always tied by a common raga (mode), sung solo
- Bhawaiya: song of bullock-cart drivers of the North (Rangpur)
- Gombhira: song (originating in Chapai Nawabganj, in the Northwest) performed with a particular distinctive rhythm and dance with two performers, always personifying a man and his grand father, discussing a topic to raise social awareness
- Hason Raja: devotional songs written by music composer Hason Raja (from Sylhet, northeastern side of Bangladesh near Assam) that was recently repopularised as dance music
- Jaari: songs involving musical battle between two groups
- Jatra Pala: songs associated exclusively with plays (performed on-stage). Usually involves colourful presentations of historical themes.
- Kirtan: devotional song depicting love of Hindu god Krishno and his (best-known) wife, Radha
- Kavigan: poems sung with simple music usually presented on stage as a musical battle between poets
- Lalon: best known of all folk songs and the most import sub-genre of Baul songs, almost entirely attributed to spiritual writer and composer, Lalon Fokir of Kushtia. He is known to all in wast Bengal of India too.(Western Bangladesh, near the border with West Bengal)
Baul [edit]
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2012) |
Baul is the most commonly known category of Bangladeshi folk songs. It is mostly performed by hermits who are followers of Sufism in Bangladesh. Present day Sufis earn mainly from performing their music. Baul songs incorporate simple words expressing songs with deeper meanings involving creation, society, lifestyle and human emotions. The songs are performed with very little musical support to the main carrier, the vocal.
Instruments used include the Ektara ("one-string"), Dotara ("two-strings"), ba(n)shi (country flute made from bamboo)) and cymbals. In recent times[when?], Baul geeti has lost popularity, due to urbanisation and westernisation.
Adhunik [edit]
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2012) |
Adhunik sangeet literally means "modern songs". Although, to outsiders, this may seem like an ambiguous nomenclature, it has particular motivations.
Bengali music traditionally has been classified mainly by the region of origin and the creators of the musical genre, such as Nazrul geeti (written and composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam), ghombhira (unique to a specific area in Bangladesh), etc. However, this prevented the ability to classify any music that failed to fit into any of the classes. In the period just before Indian independence, several new minor musical genres emerged, mainly in the form of playback songs for movies. A miscellaneous category, Adhunik sangeet, was created, since, at that time, this music was "modern".
Modern music and western influence [edit]
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (December 2012) |
Modernisation of Bengali music occurred at different times and, for the most part, independent of western influence. Most notable of these changes were:
- Popularity of folk music of Sufi genres: introduction of philosophy and religion in music.
- Introduction of variations of classical music through the works of Rabindranath Tagore.
- Introduction of complicated musical composition and use of music as a revolutionary tool through the works of Kazi Nazrul Islam.
- Fusion of traditional music with Western instrumentation to revitalize and re-popularize Bengali music. Joler Gaan is one of the best popular Fusion band in Bangladesh.
Rock music [edit]
Bangladeshi rock was introduced as a genre by Azam Khan, Souls, Miles, Nagar Baul, Warfaze, RockStrata, LRB and Ark.
Bengali rock songs became particularly popular following Warfaze (Obak Bhalobasha) (Alo), Ark (Tajmohol),(Janmabhumi),(Shadhinota), James (Thik ache bondhu), Miles (Prottasha) etc in 1900s. albums. The first female rock singer of Bangladesh was the popular young teenage singer Tishma.
Instruments [edit]
Common instruments are:[1]
See also [edit]
- Bengali folk literature
- Culture of Bengal
- Culture of India
- Culture of West Bengal
- History of Bengali literature
- Music of Bengal
- Music of West Bengal
References [edit]
- ^ a b Bangladesh. Cultures of the World. Marshall Cavendish. 2009. p. 104. ISBN 0-7614-4475-0, 9780761444756 Check
|isbn=value (help).
External links [edit]
- Bengali Mp3 Site
- Bengali Songs and Videos download
- Bangla music news
- Desi Movement
- Bangla Radio-Protitee.com
- Bangla Music - BanglaMusic.com
- Darksiderzz homepage
- Bangla Ganer Bhubon
- www.music.com.bd
- we will make you live
