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Music
 Music and dance are two very important aspects of the folklore of any region.
In Rajasthan, songs play a dominant role in the life of the people. The
lyrics are read in a prosaic style. They are not strictly songs and are referred to
as duha, soratha etc. Songs, which are more poetic than musical or melodious are
called folk poetry. The real folk-song is not something to be read. The words of folk-song become
meaningful when they are saturated with the rhythm of music to which they have
been spontaneously set through continuous use by the people. This make folk
songs timeless and limitless. Folk songs, deal with domestic or
family affairs, seasons, festivals, rituals and customs.
Gorbund is a famous folk song which describes the process of preparing a
decorative string for a camel, Rajasthan's traditional mount. The song express
the beauty in innocent labour. The composition is particularly moving when sung
to the rhythm of Kaharwa. The enjoyment of this song is hundred percent when
sung to this raga. The other folk songs are 'Indhani', 'Lawarji', 'Jallo', 'Hichaki',
'Olyun', 'Sapno', 'Kurjan' etc. The tunes of these song are melodious and fast that even the rendering
of their first times over a stringed instrument makes the audience ecstatic.
Rajasthan
has a number of communities whose hereditary profession is to sing for the
entertainment of others. Among them are the Dholis (both Hindus and Muslims),
Dhadhis, Mirasis, Mangamars, Fedalis, Kalawats and Qawwals, Tangas, Patars and
Kanchari (Hindu and Muslim prostitutes), Nats, Rawals and Bhawais. These
communities have contributed to the preservation and popularisation of
Rajasthani folk songs.
The Ragas
The
raga's
most widely used in Rajasthani folk songs are Bilawal, Kafi, Desh, Khamaj and
Peelu. Some in their pure forms and others in combinations. Many folk
songs are tuned in Bilawal and Kafi. The folk songs of Rajasthan have
maintained the elements of Indian classical music despite the fact that they are
freely composed and sung, knowing no rigid rules. Classicism in music have been
framing and improving its form with the help of folk-songs. The famous Mand
style singing in Rajasthan is a typical example. This style is very important in
folk-songs and it is well recognised in classical circles also. Mand is neither
accepted as a full-fledged raga nor is it reckoned among the freely rendered
folk songs. Mand goes very near the thumri or the ghazal. Mand is the exclusive
contribution of Rajasthani folklore to the
classical music of India.
The Tal
In Indian music Tal unites the
listener with the singer in the rhythm and ecstasy
of music. The various ragas and raginis are rendered in accordance with
the tempo of the tal differentiated by means of matras ranging from six to
sixteen. No classical music composition can be rendered without tal. In
Hindustani classical music, the Tal is provided by the tabla, pakhawaj or
mridang. Folk music also requires tal for its effective rendering and the
instruments used for it are many including the dhol (drum), dholak, nagara, majira, chang and
daf.
Rajasthani folk-songs make use of six, seven or eight matras of tal on the
dholak, tabla and nagara. The Kaharwa tal is generally played on the daf or the chang.
The musical instruments used with folk song help to keep the tal
which occupies in music, the same place as grammar does in language.
Bhajans and Banis
Bhajans and Banis are
d evotional folk songs which are very popular among the
Harijans, Chamars, Bhanghis, Balais and Rahgars. Bhajans and Banis are sung to
the accompaniment of the ektara, dholak and majiras, in night-long
gatherings. Banis are often prolonged by means of an alap. It lends seriousness to the line
and helps the audience grasp its meaning. The Bhajans composed by Mira Bai, the
great devotee of Krishna are sung with special devotion in Rajasthan.
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