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Indian music, especially Indian classical music has its
roots in the state of Uttar pradesh. The history of music in Uttar Pradesh
is more or less equivalent to the entire history of Indian Music, as Uttar
Pradesh has been the centre of cultural, religious and political
activities for nearly 2000 years. The culture of the State reflects the
multi-faceted and multi-dimensional richness of Indian culture.
Situated between the two mighty rivers
Ganga &
Yamuna, this State was
the land of the great sages and hermits. The singing of ancient hymns and
mantras laid the basic tradition of unique and great music, which has
blossomed into a musical tradition. Renowned as a centre of Indian
classical music, Varanasi in Uttar
Pradesh attracts students from all over the world and is one of the six
great gharanas of tabla playing, with its own uniquely exuberant and
powerful style.
THE MUSICAL JOURNEY
The age of the Great Guptas and Emperor Harsh Vardhan saw the pinnacle of
music. It was during this period of time that the practice and theory of
music evolved into an art and the famous 'Bharat Natya Shastra' was penned
in Uttar Pradesh. This book continues to be the Bible of North Indian
musicians.
The medieval age saw the emergence of two distinct strands of music. One
was the court music, which found patronage in the Courts of Kings and
Emperors and by other culturally inclined rich people. The second was the
religious tradition emerging from the Bhakti Cult. The Court music throve
in centres like Agra,
Fatehpur-Sikri,
Lucknow , Jaunpur,
Varanasi, Ayodhya, Banda, Datiya
and the Courts of the other local chieftains. The devotional music found
roots and flowered in centres like
Mathura,
Vrindavan and Ayodhya.
Contribution of Amir Khusro
The early medieval history also saw the birth of famous writer and
musician, Amir Khusro. He served in the courts of Slave Kings and Khaljis.
He wrote innumerable books on music, which are now lost. He created a
number of new raagas and started the tradition of 'Duhwali' in India. He
has also been credited with the discovery of musical instruments like
Tabla and Sitar. One of the most important features of the Indian music,
'Khayal' is also said to be the contribution of Amir Khusro.
Varanasi: The Ancient School
Of Indian Classical Music
Musical tradition of Varanasi remains incomparable. Some of the greatest
musicians of contemporary India were either born or were trained in this
oldest living city of the world, which is associated with Lord Shiva. He
is treated in Indian tradition as the king of all dances (Nataraj).
Allahabad: The Seat Of Music
Allahabad also became a famous
institute of music in the 20th Century, with the setting up of 'Prayag
Sangeet Samiti'. The Annual Music Conference of Allahabad, for very long
time remained the flash point of the cultural activities in Uttar Pradesh.
Among the artists of Allahabad, one of the most famous was Janaki Bai who
is known in traditions as 'Chhappan Chhuri' based on legend that she was
killed by an admirer who stabbed her 56 times, with a dagger.
The other prominent musicians of Allahabad have been internationally
renowned. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Raghu Nath Seth, Pandit Bhola Nath Bhat,
Vishnu Khasalkar and B.N. Thakar, to name a few. The last two were
disciples of the great musician, Pandit Vishnu Digambar.
FOLK MUSIC
Not only in classical but in light and folk music also, Uttar Pradesh is
literally, a treasure house, with each and every district having unique
music traditions. Rasia of Braj Region, Alha of Bundelkhand, Kajri of
Allahabad and Mirzapur, Chaiti of Awadh Region, Hori of
Mathura and Phag of eastern U.P. make
Uttar Pradesh one of the richest State of India in terms of music. It will
not be an exaggeration to say that the Hindustani Music of today is
largely a contribution of Uttar Pradesh.
Rasiya
Rasiya exhibits the rich tradition of folk songs that is found in the
Braj area. Rasiya songs describe the love of the divine couple, Radha and
Lord Krishna. It is an inseparable part of the holi celebrations and all
other festive occasions at Braj. The 'rasiya' is sung to the rhythm of
huge drums, locally known as bump.
The Musical Accompaniments
The performances are marked by the strong singing and the beating of the
nakkara drums (kettle drums). These drums are of two sizes and the
musicians have their own method of controlling pitch. The larger drum is
controlled by the application of a damp cloth to its head while the head
of the smaller drum is heated over hot coals. Other instruments are the
dholak drums, the harmonium, and cymbals while the sarangi (a string
instrument) has been discontinued.
