Music of Uttaranchal
Encyclopedia
Uttarakhand
, the 27th state of India
, is often referred as the Land of Gods
. It is a place blessed with the beauty of heaven and the grace of Gods. This is the place where the rivers passing through the huge rocks and wind passing through large pine trees produces a natural melody by itself.
Uttarakhandi folk music had its root in the lap of nature. The pure and blessed music have the feel and the touch of nature and subjects related to nature. The folk music primarily is related to the various festivals, religious traditions, folk stories and simple life of the people of Uttarakhand. Thus the songs of Uttarakhand are a true reflection of the Cultural Heritage and the way people lives their lives in the Himalayas.
There are many kinds of folk
songs from the area, including ceremonial mandals, martial panwaras and melancholy khuded, thadya and jhoda.
Musical instrument
s used in Uttarakhand music include the dhol
, damoun, turri
, ransingha, dholki, daur, thali
, bhankora
and masakbhaja. Tabla
and harmonium
are also used, but to a lesser extent.
The Music and its development have seen various phases of growth and have undergone lots of transformation during the course of time.
The earliest of the singers who left never ending impressions on the folk music of Uttarakhand were :
1.The most famous personality associated with Kumaoni Folk Music is Mohan Upreti
, who is known for his Nanda Devi Jagar & Rajula Malu Shahi Ballad .
He is famous for the great Kumaoni song Bedu Pako Baro Masa which for many years the identity of the hills of Uttarakahand. It is said this song was also a favourite of Jawahar Lal Nehru who heard it in a band march as this song is also a popular marching song.
2. Shri Gopal Babu Goswami who is considered to be a legend in Kumaon
for his melodious voice.
His songs on the life of the members of the armed forces and their families like Kaile baje muruli , Ghughuti na basa and many others are legendary, it is said that when these songs were transmitted on All India Radio women with their husbands could not help but weep when they heard the soul touching voice of Gopal Da as he was lovingly called.
3. Shri Narendra Singh Negi
who is considered to be the voice of Garhwal.
Likewise Chander Singh Rahi is another popular singer, a balladeer and storyteller. His recordings are perhaps the most authentic to the hills, and he incorporates many legends and folk tales into his rousing songs.
In the past decade Uttarakhandi Music has seen a revolution after the offer by various Music Recording / Cassette Producing agencies such as Rama Video Cassette,Nilaem cassttes and T Series who have offered news talents from local areas to make their own Cassettes after getting their songs recorded in BIGBOSS digital sound recording studio,101 karanpur dehradun uttarakhand
This has led to a sudden surge of a number of hidden talents from various corners of Uttarakhand which include famous personalities such as Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi, Heera Singh Rana, Kalpana Chauhan, Meena Rana
, Anuradha Nirala, Pritam Bharatwan, Gajendra Rana who have made their contribution to the Kumaoni / Garhwali Music by various hit songs / music albums over the period.
Heera Singh Rana is identified as a singer and asocial activist whose songs tell the tale of the pain of the people of the hills .
Some of the hit songs / albums being Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi's "Maya Ki Yaad", "Tak Taka Kamla" and many other hit albums / songs ; Gajendra Rana's "Malu", "Rani Gorkhani", "Leel Ghasyari", "Pushpa"; Pritam Bhartwan's "Saruli", "Rajuli".
Also, with advance in Technology and easy availability of videocams and other recording devices, lots of talents have started producing music albums which has further led to popularization of Uttarakhandi folk dance. In fact, Kumaoni / Garhwali songs have gained so much popularity over the years that they have become integral part of the DJ Music being played during wedding and other functions.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, the 27th state of India
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
, is often referred as the Land of Gods
Land of Gods
Land of Gods is an expression that can apply to:*Greece is referred to as the land of the Gods in Greek literature and mythology.*Uttarakhand, the 27th State of India is often referred to as the Land of Gods because it hosts many holy temples and cities which are some of Hinduism's most spiritual...
. It is a place blessed with the beauty of heaven and the grace of Gods. This is the place where the rivers passing through the huge rocks and wind passing through large pine trees produces a natural melody by itself.
Uttarakhandi folk music had its root in the lap of nature. The pure and blessed music have the feel and the touch of nature and subjects related to nature. The folk music primarily is related to the various festivals, religious traditions, folk stories and simple life of the people of Uttarakhand. Thus the songs of Uttarakhand are a true reflection of the Cultural Heritage and the way people lives their lives in the Himalayas.
There are many kinds of folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
songs from the area, including ceremonial mandals, martial panwaras and melancholy khuded, thadya and jhoda.
Musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s used in Uttarakhand music include the dhol
Dhol
Dhol can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent and nearby regions. Its range of distribution in India and Pakistan primarily includes northern areas such as the Assam Valley, Bengal, Gujarat,...
, damoun, turri
Turri
Turri is a comune in the Province of Medio Campidano in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 60 km northwest of Cagliari and about 15 km north of Sanluri. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 500 and an area of 9.6 km².Turri borders the following municipalities:...
, ransingha, dholki, daur, thali
Thali
Thali is a Western, Central, and North-Western Indian meal with contents varying from one region to another. More usual and famous thalis are Maharashtrian, Gujarati and Rajasthani. A thali is a selection of different dishes, usually served in small bowls on a round tray. The round tray is...
, bhankora
Bhankora
The bhankora is a musical instrument used in religious ceremonies in Uttarakhand, India. It is a long horn made of copper....
and masakbhaja. Tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
and harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
are also used, but to a lesser extent.
The Music and its development have seen various phases of growth and have undergone lots of transformation during the course of time.
The earliest of the singers who left never ending impressions on the folk music of Uttarakhand were :
1.The most famous personality associated with Kumaoni Folk Music is Mohan Upreti
Mohan Upreti
Mohan Upreti was an Indian theatre director, playwright and a music composer, considered one of the pioneers in Indian theatre music....
, who is known for his Nanda Devi Jagar & Rajula Malu Shahi Ballad .
He is famous for the great Kumaoni song Bedu Pako Baro Masa which for many years the identity of the hills of Uttarakahand. It is said this song was also a favourite of Jawahar Lal Nehru who heard it in a band march as this song is also a popular marching song.
2. Shri Gopal Babu Goswami who is considered to be a legend in Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
for his melodious voice.
His songs on the life of the members of the armed forces and their families like Kaile baje muruli , Ghughuti na basa and many others are legendary, it is said that when these songs were transmitted on All India Radio women with their husbands could not help but weep when they heard the soul touching voice of Gopal Da as he was lovingly called.
3. Shri Narendra Singh Negi
Narendra Singh Negi
Narendra Singh Negi is one of the most prominent folk singers of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.In Uttarkhand it is a famous saying that if you want to know about Uttarakhnd, its people, society, life, culture, traditions and politics then either refer to books of scholars or listen to the...
who is considered to be the voice of Garhwal.
Likewise Chander Singh Rahi is another popular singer, a balladeer and storyteller. His recordings are perhaps the most authentic to the hills, and he incorporates many legends and folk tales into his rousing songs.
In the past decade Uttarakhandi Music has seen a revolution after the offer by various Music Recording / Cassette Producing agencies such as Rama Video Cassette,Nilaem cassttes and T Series who have offered news talents from local areas to make their own Cassettes after getting their songs recorded in BIGBOSS digital sound recording studio,101 karanpur dehradun uttarakhand
This has led to a sudden surge of a number of hidden talents from various corners of Uttarakhand which include famous personalities such as Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi, Heera Singh Rana, Kalpana Chauhan, Meena Rana
Meena Rana
Meena Rana is one of the folk singer of Uttarakhand, who can be heard on many Garhwali and Kumaoni music albums.Early LifeHer schooling was done from Bathla Memorial Girls Senior Secondary School, Rajpur Road, Delhi till 9th standard and then from Girls Inter College Mussoorie.After getting...
, Anuradha Nirala, Pritam Bharatwan, Gajendra Rana who have made their contribution to the Kumaoni / Garhwali Music by various hit songs / music albums over the period.
Heera Singh Rana is identified as a singer and asocial activist whose songs tell the tale of the pain of the people of the hills .
Some of the hit songs / albums being Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi's "Maya Ki Yaad", "Tak Taka Kamla" and many other hit albums / songs ; Gajendra Rana's "Malu", "Rani Gorkhani", "Leel Ghasyari", "Pushpa"; Pritam Bhartwan's "Saruli", "Rajuli".
Also, with advance in Technology and easy availability of videocams and other recording devices, lots of talents have started producing music albums which has further led to popularization of Uttarakhandi folk dance. In fact, Kumaoni / Garhwali songs have gained so much popularity over the years that they have become integral part of the DJ Music being played during wedding and other functions.