Music in Varanasi

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Left: Ravi Shankar of Varanasi, the iconic Sitar player who was awarded the Bharat Ratna; right: Bismillah Khan, the Shehnai maestro of Varanasi, Vikash Maharaj Sarod Maestro Yash Bharati & Karmveer Awardee.

Music in Varanasi is a tradition linked to the ancient times of the Pauranic legends. Lord Shiva, who is reported to have established this city, was credited with developing music and dance forms. Legend also attributes that Renu}, son of sage Vishvamitra and Mahagobind, was the precursors of music tradition in Kashi (Varanasi) when nymphs (Apsaras), Gandharvas and Kinnaras were the traditional practitioners of this art form, and saint Chaitanya and Vallabhacharya were the pioneers in spreading this music tradition in Varanasi. [1] Notable musicians of Varanasi include the iconic sitar player Ravi Shankar, the Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan, Sarod maestro Vikash Maharaj and singer Girija Devi. has joined the global bandwagon of UNESCO "Cities of Music" under the Creative Cities Network. [2] Varanasi chosen in music category of creative cities network clearly signifies the rich musical heritage of this ancient city.

Contents

History

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Left: Ravidas propounded Ravidassia religious movement; right: Gosvami Tulsidas.

Archeological finds of figurines of apsaras playing musical instruments indicate that music has long been important to Varanasi. [1] In medieval times, the Vaishnava Bhakthi movement swept through the country. Literature attests to the fact that the Kingdom of Kashi centering on Varanasi was a major centre for music. The noted saint musicians were Surdas, Kabir, Ravidas, Meera and Tulsidas. [1]

The music culture of devotional music permeated in Varanasi during the neo-Vaishnava movement when holy men singing devotional songs attracted people to the fold of the Bhakthi movement. [3]

During the monarchic rule of Govind Chandra in the 16th century, the Dhrupad style of singing received royal patronage and led to other related forms of music such as Dhamar, Hori and Chaturanga. Under Muslim rulers, the Nawab of Awadh, the Nirgun singers of Kashi not only popularized the Assarwari, "Ghunghat ke pat Khol" song but also popularized the singing concerts such as festivals on the boats floating on the Ganges River. Some of the popular festivals were Jhoola, Jhoomar, Kajri, Birha, Dangal and Gulab Bari, a tradition which is continued even today. One of the singing styles made popular by Muslim artists Shori Miyan, Gammu Khan and Shade Khan during this time was the Tappa form of singing. [1]

In recent times, the tutelary head, the Maharajas of Kashi of Varanasi, particularly Maharaj Prabhu Narayan Singh, have patronized music. During the Moghal Emperor Bahadur Shah II's reign, the noted musicians were Waris Ali, Akbar Ali, Nisar Khan, Sadiq Ali and Ashiq Ali Khan. Ali Mohammad and Ali Bux, the sons of Basat Khan, who were hailed as the "jewels" of the Royal court of Kashi. During this time, the local music styles which developed were the Banarasi Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Hori, Bhairavi, Kajri, Tarana, Ghato and many more. In addition, new forms were created such as Tirwat, Sadra, Khamsa, Lavni, Chaturang, Sargam, Ragmala, Kirtan, Qauwali, Kathagayan, Bhajan and Ramayan kirtan. [1] Two hundred years ago, Pandit Ram Sahai developed the Benares gharana of the tabla, and within this genre, the notable musicians include Kishan Maharaj, Samta Prasad, Kumar Bose, and Samar Saha. [4] A class of musicians, gandharva , train their daughters in music and dancing. [5]

The Varanasi School of Music that has evolved is very similar to the Lucknow style (gharana) of music and has also imbued local folk traditions of chaiti and kajri . This form of music spread quickly. Shankara Deva, a devotional music singer saint in his own right, was instrumental in composing Bhakthi songs. [6] Biajis, a courtesan sect of Varanasi, are credited with maintaining and contributing to the traditions of Hindustani music and dance in Varanasi. [7]

Notable musicians and musicologists

Girija Devi of Varanasi, the famous classical singer of thumris Girija Devi.jpg
Girija Devi of Varanasi, the famous classical singer of thumris

Several of India's most talented musicians hailed/hail from Varanasi. Pandit Ravi Shankar, the famous sitar player and musicologist who was given Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country was a native of Varanasi. [8] Ustad Bismillah Khan, an iconic Shehnai maestro who was also honored with the Bharat Ratna also came from Varanasi. [1] Jotin Bhattacharya, Vikash Maharaj Sarod maestros and the disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan also come from Varanasi. Mian Tansen , musician of Mughal emperor Akbar's court, may have been born in Varanasi. [4]

Girija Devi, the classical singer of thumris (semi-classical Indian music), was born in Varanasi and she was instrumental in elevating music to a status of respectability and appreciation. [9] Notable musicologists from Varanasi include Prem Lata Sharma [10] and Jayadeva Singh. [11]


Musical instruments

The most notable musical instruments of Varanasi are the sitar and the shehnai. [12] Not only tabla (a set of two small drums which is the percussion instrument of India) but also sitar are good to buy in Varanasi. In case of sitar, the wood they are made from is important to verify and consult a local artist. Instruments made of mango tree wood is inferior in quality compared to the ones made with teak or from the a herbal tree known as vijyasar. [13]

Festivals

Drupad Festival, a music festival of Hindustani classical music, is held for 3 days at Tulsi Ghat in March/April every year, [14] while Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh is held in April and May. Other music festivals are held during the time of religious festivals, such as Kartik Purnima (November), Buddha Purnima (May), and Shivaratri (March). [4] There is an International Music Centre Ashram in Varanasi where classical music by budding artists is held regularly. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

Thumri is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb thumuknaa, which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dramatic gestures, mild eroticism, evocative love poetry and folk songs, especially from Uttar Pradesh, though there are regional variations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bismillah Khan</span> Indian musician (1916–2006)

Ustad Bismillah Khan, often referred to by the title Ustad, was an Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai, a reeded woodwind instrument. He played it with such expressive virtuosity that he became a leading Hindustani classical music artist. His name was indelibly linked with the woodwind instrument. While the shehnai had importance as a folk instrument played primarily by musicians schooled in traditional ceremonies, Khan is credited with elevating its status and bringing it to the concert stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allauddin Khan</span> Indian musician

Ustad Allauddin Khan, was an Indian sarod player and multi-instrumentalist, composer and one of the most notable music teachers of the 20th century in Indian classical music. For a generation many of his students, across different instruments like sitar and violin, dominated Hindustani classical and became one of the most famous exponents of the form ever, including Khan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mewati gharana</span> Classical music school of India

The Mewati gharana is a musical apprenticeship tribe of Hindustani classical music. Known for being Pandit Jasraj's musical lineage, the gharana was founded by brothers Ghagge Nazir Khan and Wahid Khan (beenkar) of Indore in the late 19th century at the Holkar Court. Members of this gharana have had an active influence in Indian cinema for over half a century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple</span> Hindu temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is a Hindu temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India and is dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman, in his form as "Sankat Mochan," meaning the "reliever from troubles".. The temple was established by famous Hindu preacher and poet saint Sri Goswami Tulsidas in the early 16th century and is situated on the banks of the Assi river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siddheshwari Devi</span> Musical artist

Siddheswari Devi was a legendary Hindustani singer from Varanasi, India, known as Maa (mother). Her music embodied the Banaras Gharana style, which focuses on conveying deep emotions and feelings through musical notes and voice modulations. A stalwart figure in thumri, Siddheshwari's repertoire also encompassed khayals, dhrupads, dadras, tappas, kajris, chaitis, horis, and bhajans.

Pandit Kishan Maharaj was an Indian tabla player who belonged to the Benares gharana of Hindustani classical music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumar Bose</span> Musical artist

Pandit Kumar Bose, born 4 April 1953, is an Indian tabla musician and composer of Indian classical music.

Yaman is a heptatonic (Sampurna) Indian classical raga of Kalyan Thaat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vilayat Khan</span> Indian musician

Ustad Vilayat Khan was an Indian classical sitar player, considered by many to be the greatest sitarist of his age. Along with Imdad Khan, Enayat Khan, and Imrat Khan, he is credited with the creation and development of gayaki ang on the sitar.

<i>Goonj Uthi Shehnai</i> 1959 Indian film

Goonj Uthi Shehnai is a 1959 Hindi film directed by Vijay Bhatt, with Rajendra Kumar, Ameeta, Anita Guha and I. S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Vasant Desai and lyrics by Bharat Vyas, and the duo created numerous hits such as "Jivan Men Piya Tera Sath Rahe" sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd. Rafi, and Lata's "Tere Sur Aur Mere Geet" and "Dil Ka Khilona Hai Toot Gaya".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasoolan Bai</span> Musical artist

Rasoolan hussain was a leading Indian Hindustani classical music vocal musician. Belonging to the Benaras gharana, she specialized in the romantic Purab Ang of the Thumri musical genre and tappa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rais Khan</span> Pakistani musician (1939-2017)

Ustad Rais Khan was a Pakistani sitarist. At his peak he was regarded as one of the greatest sitar players of all time. He continued performing till his last days. He moved from India to Pakistan in 1986, where he took up Pakistani citizenship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhaskar Nath</span> Musical artist

Baba Bhaskar Nath is an Indian classical instrumentalist. He plays shehnai. Belonging from the Meerut Shehnai Gharana, he is considered a child prodigy.

Mohammad Sharif Khan known as Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwaley was a classical player of sitar, vichitra veena and raza been in the hindustani classical music tradition.

Ashutosh Bhattacharya was a noted Indian classical musician of Hindustani classical music from Varanasi, who was Tabla player and music educator, besides a practicing Ayurvedic doctor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamala Bose</span> Indian singer (1947–2012)

Kamala Bose (Bengali) (1947–2012) was a prominent Indian classical vocalist.

Anant Lal, often referred to by the title Pandit, was an Indian classical musician who played the shehnai. He worked for All India Radio and played with artists such as Ravi Shankar and Debu Chaudhuri in addition to recording under his own name. Lal was one of the leading exponents of the shehnai in Hindustani classical music. In 1989, he received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest recognition afforded artists in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. Ballesh</span> Indian shehnai player

Pandit S. Ballesh Bhajantri is a popular Indian classical Hindustani shehnai player. He is a disciple of shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan, he is benares gharana shehnai player and a patiala gharana hindustani vocalist, ghazal singer, Indian playback singer and musician, Ballesh is credited with popularizing the shehnai, a reeded woodwind instrument. He is also a Prasar Bharati's All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan artist.

References

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  2. "Creative cities map | Creative Cities Network".
  3. Maheswar, Neg (1980). Early History of the Vaiṣṇava Faith and Movement in Assam: Śaṅkaradeva and His Times. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 276–. ISBN   978-81-208-0007-6 . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
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  6. Bigamudre C. Deva (1 January 1995). Indian music. Indian Council for Cultural Relations. pp. 64–. ISBN   978-81-224-0730-3 . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  7. de Bruyn et al. 2010, p. 211.
  8. 1 2 Bruyn, Pippa de; Bain, Keith; Allardice, David; Shonar Joshi (18 February 2010). Frommer's India. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 470–. ISBN   978-0-470-64580-2 . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  9. Broughton, Simon; Ellingham, Mark; Trillo, Richard (2000). World Music Volume 2 Latin and North America Caribbean India Asia and: Pacific the Rough Guide. Rough Guides. pp. 91–. ISBN   978-1-85828-636-5 . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  10. Case, Margaret H. (4 April 2000). Seeing Krishna: The Religious World of a Brahman Family in Vrindaban: The Religious World of a Brahman Family in Vrindaban. Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 105–. ISBN   978-0-19-535153-8.
  11. Kuppuswamy, Gowri; Hariharan, Muthuswamy (1979). Readings on Indian music. College Book House. p. xi.
  12. Bhatia, Suresh (2008). Sarnath, Varanasi and Kausambi: A Pilgrim's Guide Book. Indica Books. ISBN   978-81-86569-77-1.
  13. Singh, Sarina (15 September 2010). Lonely Planet India. Lonely Planet. pp. 451–. ISBN   978-1-74220-347-8 . Retrieved 31 May 2013.
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Bibliography