Listening Examples 3 and 4
Drumming in Kerala Southwest state known for drum ensembles Sharp drumming style Ensembles parade through streets for festivals High-caste Marars – theatre & dance performances Lower-caste Parayans – lower festivals Word “pariah” derives from this caste Chenda melam – large ensemble of drum players Contains up to 45 chendas, 15 horns, 15 woodwinds, 30 cymbals Chenda drum hangs vertically Drummer plays with one stick, two sticks, or stick + hand Ensembles = men (some women now join)
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Drumming in Kerala (cont.) The idakka (edakka or edaykka) – daily temple rituals Hourglass-shaped drum hangs from shoulder Held horizontally & played w/one stick Can change pitch by pressing membrane lacing w/other hand Drum can supposedly mimic syllables of human voice Sound can resemble a string bass Training requires lengthy apprenticeship Students learn syllables on block of wood
Bhangra Music Folkloric styles: new musical genres based on rural styles In 1950s, group from Patiala invented Bhangra Included hereditary specialists & college student dancers Sent to rep the Punjab state in Republic Day Parade Energetic, lively music; lyrics celebrate rural life Instruments include Punjab dhol (barrel drum) Features tumbi (one-string instrument played by plucking) Punjab immigrants brought bhangra to England In 1970s & 1980s, musicians blended it w/hip-hop, house & dance music Sound is Punjabi Dhol might be replaced w/electronic synth beats Symbolizes South Asian youth Bhangra competitions were popular on college campuses End of professional music section
DEVOTIONAL MUSIC Bhajan (sung poetry) Bhakti = feeling of love for a deity Originated in Tamil South India (reaction against elite priesthood) Topics: longing, tenderness, distance, memory Deities take various forms 8 th century Tamil poem – Vishnu rests upon sea snake 15 th century Hindi poem (Surdas) – Krishna appears as a farmboy Krishna is manifestation of Vishnu, called Nananandan Poet Mira (Meera, Mirabai) – famous bhajan poet & sant Sant = people who “know the spiritual truth” (think “saint”) Poetry tells her life story
Mirabai’s Story Born in early 16 th Century in Rajasthan Became enamored with a doll of Sri Krishna at age 3 To her, it embodied his living presence Never wavered from her devotion to Krishna (believed he was her spiritual lover and husband) Had an arranged marriage to a prince Faithful to husband, but spent much time singing devotional bhajans to Krishna – ecstasy, trances
Mirabai’s Story New family didn’t like her devotion (they worshiped Durga) Heavily criticized (out of jealousy) because of her piety In-laws tried to kill her but did not succeed Legend says she eventually merged into an idol of Krishna in
Kabir: Another Well-Known Sant Practiced nirgun bhakti, devotion to deities without characteristics Lived in North India in 15 th Century Sikh’s sacred book contains poetry Condemns hypocrisy, ritual, and prejudice “You may only find truth within yourself…”
“Vaishnava Jana To” Bhajan song sung in Gujarati Mahatma Gandhi liked it Vaishnavas refers to devotees ofVishnu
Kirtan Brand of Hindu devotional music – many forms Uses call-response chant Kirtans can last all night, or all week Usually led by spiritual leader Sikh kirtan refers to singing the Guru Granth Sahib AKA “Kirtan of the Word” Includes music of the poet Kabir Performed in Gurdwaras (Sikh houses of worship) Famous performer – Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-) Non-denominational versions (Western yoga studios) (specialists lead them as a healing practice)
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