magicofmusicindia

MAGIC OF MUSIC
What is music? Is it a breeze of fragrance? Doesn’t it make your mind fresh even in the scorching sun of May in Mumbai. It is a drizzle in scorching sun. And what not! Words fall short to describe. Have you seen a baby of six to eight months calling attention of it’s mother and other people? It cannot speak. It makes different sounds having different meanings. Mothers sing to please the baby when it cries. The baby stops crying when mother sings. Mother cannot explain in words and make the baby stop crying. What she cannot express in words, her song can express. This is the magic of music. I remember my son, when he was less than a year, used to listen to radio. When put the radio off, he started to shout and cry. Those days there was no Hindi or Marathi songs all the time on All India Radio. Especially in the afternoon around 4 ‘O’ Clock. I used to put songs in some other languages. Sometimes Indian classical music. He used to enjoy all, whatever the language of the song, even unknown to us. This is the magic of music. A baby knows music first and then understands words and then a language.

ANIMALS PLANTS AND MUSIC
Music is the universal language of all animals. Music allures wild animals like deers as described in ancient Indian history. Dr. Jagdeeshchandra Bose the great Indian scientist has experimentally shown the evidence of good effects of music on plants. Plants grew vigorously under the influence of music. Music gives us peace of mind. Music envigorates our mind and improves our mental and concurrently physical health. Music inhibits the symptoms of many diseases like blood pressure.

NATURE AND MUSIC
Animals speak. Different animals produce different sounds to convey message. Crows crow to speak with one another. Cows moo. Dogs bark. Tigers & lions roar. Birds chirp. The system of different sounds having different messages (meanings) make a language. Each animal has a language. Different animals have different languages. Many scientists have studied different animals. The famous Lady Jane Gudall of England left home in teenage, went Africa and studied chimps. She used to speak to the chimps. Different communities of men have different language.

Have you ever heard birds chirping just before a fine morning. The chirping is pleasant. Ancient man must have heard different sounds of different animals. He (or she) must have thought why some sounds are pleasant and some not. Man can produce widest range of vocal sounds. Naturally he or she must have produced the sounds of other animals. Some of them might have acquired better skill of repeating the sounds of other animals. Birds sing. I remember the poem “The Spring” I learnt during the school days. The poet has beautifully captured the singing of birds in words. “Cuckoo - jug jug - pu we - too witta woo” Is it not the be the prime music played by the nature? Man must have started initially singing like birds. This could be the abc of vocal music. Also some sounds in the nature produce pleasant effects on sensitive human mind. The sound of flowing stream. The thud of rain. The lightening. Tap of galloping horse. Waves at the sea shore. These beats added rhythm to the music.

Many scientists have studied different animals. The famous Jane Gudall of England left home in teenage, went Africa and studied chimps. She used to speak to the chimps.


INDIAN MUSIC
Indian music is predominantly based on melodies. Vocal music was earlier had Top Prestige in Indian Music. However during last 50 years or so, Pandit Ravi Shankar: Sitarist, Ustad Bismillah Khan: Shahanai Navaz, Ali Akbar Khan & Amjaad Ali Khan: Sarodist, Pandit V. G. Jog, M. S. Gopal Krishnan, N. Rajam: Violinist have created Top Class Prestige to Instrumental Music. No. They gave a new dimention to Indian Music. Pandit Alla Rakkhan, Pandit Samata Prasad, Pandit Murali Maharaj, Pandit Suresh Talwalkar gave another dimension to rhythm of Indian Music.


HINDUSTHAANEE SANGEET
Hindusthanee Sangeet has three main trends:
1. Shastreey Sangeet: Classical Music. A Raag Recital goes on about 60 to 100 minutes. It needs Good patience even to listen and hence is comparatively popular in specific class of society who have time, enough patience and flair for the depth of music. But undoubted this is the ‘Grammar of Indian Music. Apart from rare honourable exceptions, each of the great Indian musicians has studied this Shastreey Sangeet. This is the Foundation of Indian Music. Almost all classic and all time great creations of Indian Music are based on Shastreey Sangeet. In fact this the soul of not only Indian Music, but Indian Classical Dance too. Do wait for next article for further details. As Hindustani Shastreey Sangeet is dominated by Raags, ite is commonly mentioned as Raagdaari. Dhrupad Dhamaar is earlier form of Raagdaari. Amir Khusro, the great philosopher, artist, etc. etc., moreover a versatile genius in the Court Of Mughal Samraat Akbar invented the form of Khyaal which became very popular later on. The Dhrupad Dhamaar thereafter almost became extinct. More about it in the forecoming issues.

Indian music is predominantly based on melodies. Vocal music was earlier had Top
Prestige in Indian Music. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Kumar Gandharwa, Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande, Pandit Omkaarnaath Thaakoor, Pandit Jeetendra Abhisheki, Pandit Jasraaj, Pandit Ajay Chakrawarti, etc. are great Vocalist in Indian Shastreey Sangeet. However during last 50 years or so, Pandit Ravi Shankar: Sitarist, Ustad Bismillah Khan: Shahanai Navaz, Ali Akbar Khan & Amjaad Ali Khan: Sarodist, Pandit V. G. Jog, M. S. Gopal Krishnan, N. Rajam: Violinist have created Top Class Presidge to Instrumental Music. Pandit Alla Rakkhan, Pandit Samata Prasad, Pandit Murali Maharaj, Pandit

2. Oop-Shastreey Sangeet: Semi Classical Sangeet The core of this is Shastreey Sangeet. But presented in more attractive form with intense emotions. The bindings of discipline of Raag are relaxed to some extent provided it enhance the exhibition of emotions. Thus this form consists of less grammar and more flair, ornamentation and colours. Of course more popular. The recital forms are known as 1. Thumari, 2. Dadaraa, 3. Ghazal, 4. Chaitee, 5. Kajaree, 6. Horee, 7. Naatya Sangeet etc. All these types have their own features. These features will be discussed in detail in next article later on.

Begham Akhtar, Bade Ghulaam Alee Khan, Girijaa Devi, Nirmalaa Arun, Shakeela Banu Bhopaali, Jagjeet Singh, Shobha Gurtoo, Baal Gandharwa, Chhotaa Gandharwa, Jeetendra etc. from India, Mehdee Hassan, Ghulaam Ali etc. from Pakistan (Yes. Pakistani Sangeet and Indian Sangeet are the same and not Different) are the all time Great maestroes of Oop Shastreey Sangeet.

3. Sugam Sangeet: This is the most popular version of Indian Music. This is short, sweet, easy to understand but meaningful poetry, fast rhythm. This music carries the best features of “Shastreey Sangeet” and “Oop Shastreey Sangeet”. In short core of best and attractive ornamented features presented in a most attractive packing. Shastreey Sangeet is an Ocean, Oop Shastreey Sangeet is a river and Sugam Sangeet is a naughty spring full of life, flow and rhythm. However a deep knowledge, study and practice of Shastreey as well as Oop Shastreey Sangeet as well as great creativity and flair is essencial for creation of Sugam Sangeet. Do wait for next article for further details.

Lata Mangeshkar, Noor Jahan, Kishor Kumar, Hemant Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mehmood, K. L. Saigal, Asha Bhosle, etc. are most popular Singers. Naushaat, Madan Mohan, Roshan, Khayyam, Shankar Jaikishan, Klyanji Anandji are some great Music Directors of Sugam Sangeet


KARNAATAK SANGEET
Karnatak Sangeet is not different from Hindusthanee Sangeet. Same “Swar”s, Similar Taals, but different style. More details, please wait for next article.