Rajasthan: The singing deserts and their musical sagas
The soaring vocals of a Rajasthan folk artist announces its incredible presence as one of the world most preferred travel destinations. Embedded with emotion and captivating story telling tradition, Rajasthan music culture continues to hypnotize millions. Immortal love stories, battlefield sagas, devotional bhakti geet and timeless folklore, emanate from its geography with ceaseless regularity akin to a fount of communities dedicated to music throng the landscape decorating it with an array of musical styles. Sufi and Folk music is the bastion of the world renowned Manganiyar and Langas ; a common sight in cultural festivals across the world.
Snake charmer dances and adrenaline pumping melodies are the domain of the Kalbeliya community. The wild aura they build around their performance is a sight to behold.
While men in many communities are professional weavers, they double up as musicians around the year. Many Rajasthanis are adept at the harmonium and use it for its resplendent tone. Women use their singing talent in villages on occasions like births, deaths, wedding and in praise of their deities. They also pass on the traditional music of the region to the younger women folk.
While the music of Rajasthan comes in various genres, enhancing its core appeal are the incredible range of musical instruments native to Rajasthan. These Percussion, Auto-phonic, Strings, and Wind musical instruments carry the much-needed Umami (the X factor) that gives Rajasthani music a distinctive identity.
In the percussion class are the large Dhol; one end of which is played with a wooden stick and the other by hand while the other is the Dholak which uses both hands to play the ends. The Nagara and Tasha are the other rhythm enhancers.
The Khartal, held in one hand, is used in devotional music produces a prominent rhythmic echo when its two clappers are struck together. An assembly of flutes “Satara” involves playing two flutes in unison; a style of playing mastered by locals. The Algoza is another double flute with one being played and the other acting as a drone. A unique circular breathing pattern is needed to play the Algoza.
The Sarangi, the 19 stringed Kamaycha, the Ravanhatta and the Bhapang supported by a small cylindrical drum used in Lokgeet are some of the prominent string instruments in vogue for ages.
Rajasthan also has its nonpareil form of tribute offerings to their heroes through music. Different Ragas synthesized to evoke the valorous appeal of the Kings and Maharajas make-up the Maand, one of the most popular forms of a musical eulogy.
The value of water, every drop, perhaps, can hardly be overstated. The Rajasthan locals have been at the receiving end of water scarcity for years. The Panihari are folk music compositions by Rajasthani women folk depicting tumbling water waves and myriad water related issues.
Pabuji a well-known folk artist from Rajasthan belonging to the Bhopa community has a set of music compositions, “Pabuji Ki Phach” dedicated to his memory recount his contribution to the community. The use of a long-rhythmic scroll gives Pabuji an ethereal appeal.
Jangad are a variety of war songs felicitating the tremendous bravery of the Rajput clan. Songs that have travelled worldwide include the classic Kesariya Balma, Nimbuda and Morni.
Rajasthani folk in its contemporary avatar is appreciated for ambassadors like Kutle Khan a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer with the readiness to adapt the latest sounds while retaining the purity of the folk music he represents. Jasu Khan, another popular folk artist has also been an apostle of traditional Rajasthani folk with a proactive mindset
It is quite remarkable that many of the country’s leading classical vocalists come from the Jaipur Attrauli Gharana founded by the legendary Ustad Alladiya Khan. Stalwarts like Mallikarjun Mansur, Kishori Amonkar, Dhondutai Kulkarni, Shruti Shadolikar are some of the outstanding artists the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana has gifted to the world of Indian classical. Intricate attention to Layakari gives the Gharana an august presence among the Hindustani music Gharanas.
There are a good number of music and cultural festivals like the RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival) and Jodhpurs World Sacred Spirit Festival that bring in a beneficial international exposure to these bands.Digital media has gone on to make life easier for many of these artists offering them a wider audience and better exposure to audiophiles across the world. Streaming services also ensure better earnings through royalties and performing opportunities at prominent venues.
Ample scope to scale up Rajasthani music revenue potential and geographical reach lies in the wait. Better awareness and adaptability of the latest technology for musicians is a factor that’ll clinch the potential of the incredible energy of Rajasthani music and push it closer to its unlimited potential.
-Vibhav Rao