Gujarati Folk Music: The Heart and Soul of India

Gujarati folk music has been an integral part of the country’s cultural heritage for centuries. From the heart-wrenching ballads of love and loss to the high-energy rhythms of festivals and celebrations, this music is the perfect way to experience the diversity and richness of India.

What is Gujarati folk music?

Gujarati folk music is the traditional music of the Gujarati people of India. It is often described as the heart and soul of India. The music is a blend of traditional Indian and Western influences. It is often based on Hindu mythology and uses a variety of instruments, including the sitar, tabla, and harmonium. Gujarati folk music has a wide range of genres, including bhajans (devotional songs), ghazals (love poems), and qawwalis ( Muslim devotional music).

The history of Gujarati folk music.

Gujarati folk music has a long and rich history, dating back centuries. The music is deeply intertwined with the culture and traditions of the Gujarati people, and it has been passed down through the generations in an oral tradition.

The music is used for a variety of purposes, including ablutions, healing ceremonies, holidays, and as entertainment at weddings and other social gatherings. It is also an important part of the religious rituals of the Hindu and Jain communities.

Gujarati folk music is highly diverse, with a wide range of regional styles and genres. The most commonly-heard type of music is the devotional song, or bhajan, which is sung to praise a particular deity or saint. Other popular genres include ghazals (love songs), garbas (dance songs), and folk tales set to music (known as kathas).

The instruments used in Gujarati folk music are also quite diverse, including drums, cymbals, flutes, guitars, harmoniums, andaque-baja(a type of string instrument). The melodies are often based on classical ragas, and the lyrics are usually in Gujarati or Hindi.

Gujarati folk music has been popularized in recent years by a number of artists, including Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Kishore Manraja, PravinGodkhindi,and Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. These artists have helped to bring the music to a wider audience, both within India and around the world.

The instruments used in Gujarati folk music.

Gujarati folk music is a very important part of the cultural heritage of Gujarat. It is popular all over the world, and is known for its distinctiveness and uniqueness.

The music is mostly vocal, with instruments playing a supporting role. The main instruments used in Gujarati folk music are the sitar, tabla, dholak, manjo, shehnai, jantar and harmonium. Other instruments include the flute, tambura, sarangi and violin.

The sitar is a stringed instrument that originated in India. It has a long neck and a large body. The strings are plucked with the fingers, and the right hand also controls the Drone strings. The sitar is used to play both solo and accompaniment parts.

The tabla is a percussion instrument that consists of two drums: the dayan (right) and bayan (left). The dayan is played with the right hand, while the bayan is played with the left hand. The tabla is used to provide rhythm in Gujarati folk music.

The dholak is a musical instrument that originated in India. It consists of two drums: the dayan (right) and bayan (left). The dayan is played with sticks, while the bayan is played with bare hands or with fingerscovered in cloth. The dholak provides rhythm for Gujarati folk songs.

The manjois a stringed instrument that originated in India. It has four strings which are plucked with the fingers. The manjo provides melody for Gujarati folk songs.

The shehnai ia an Indian musical instrument that consists of a conical tube made of wood or metal 65-120 cm long that opens at one end while closed at another end by inserted metal plugs or stoppers at each end; it has six to eight finger holes along its length; it ends like an oboe or clarinet mouthpiece; it may have U-shaped or S-shaped bends; it may have as many as seven parallel pipes each ending like an oboe or clarinet mouthpiece (shehnai – set); each pipe may be tuned differently making sets of two matching pipes (jor – pair), three pipes (trio), four pipes (quintet), five pipes (hexatonic), six pipes (heptatonic), seven pipes (octave) etc.; all shehnais are commonly used singly but can be found in pairs also especially in Carnatic music where they serve as solo drone accompaniments called jor shehnais playing basic swaras/ notes of various scales whereas single shehnais continue to accompany most Indian vocalists & instrumentalists throughout North India & Pakistan; soft versions made of gourd are also found especially South India & Sri Lanka where they accompany most Carnatic vocalists & instrumentalists; some famous players: Bismillah Khan Ustad(caste:shehnai player)of Benares Gharana(family/ castecommunity); Nasir Ahmad Khan(caste: Pathan)of Delhi Gharana; Pt Daya Shanker(caste: Brahmin)of Agra Gharana; Pt Krishnamoorthy Rao(caste: Brahmin)of Mysore/ Karnataka Gharana etc.(encyclopedia).

The jantar ia an Indian percussion instrument which consists of two metal plates which are struck together; it provides rhythm for Gujarati folk songs.(encyclopedia).

The flute ia a musical instrument that consists ofa wooden tube with six to eight finger holes along its length and an embouchure hole for blowing air across; it may have U-shaped or S-shaped bends.(encyclopedia).

The tambura ia an Indian musical instrument thatconsists ofa long necked lute with 4 to 6 metal strings which are plucked 8 to 10 times per second providing continuous background drone during Carnatic music performances; shorter versions without necks called tamburi also exist especially South India where they provide similar function during Carnatic concerts; some famous players: Ramnad Krishnan(caste: Vanniyar Chettiar)of Thanjavur Gharana(family/ caste community); Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar(caste: Brahmin)of Thanjavur Gharana etc.(encyclopedia).

The different genres of Gujarati folk music.

There are many different genres of Gujarati folk music, each with its own unique style and history. The most popular genres include Garba, Dandiya Raas, Tappa, and Bhavai.

Garba is a popular Hindu folk dance that originated in the state of Gujarat. The word “Garba” comes from the Sanskrit term “garbha”, which means “womb”. This is because the movements of the dance resemble the movements of a baby in the womb. The dance is usually performed around a clay pot filled with water, which symbolizes the goddess Lakshmi.

Dandiya Raas is another popular Gujarati folk dance, which is similar to Garba. However, instead of being performed around a pot of water, it is performed with sticks (dandiyas). The sticks are used to strike one another in time with the music.

Tappa is a type of Gujarati folk music that originated in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. It is characterized by its fast tempo and use of percussion instruments.

Bhavai is a type of Gujarati folk theatre that combines elements of music, dance, and drama. It often tells stories from Hindu mythology, and is usually performed by women.

The influence of Gujarati folk music on other genres.

Gujarati folk music has had a profound influence on other genres of music, both in India and abroad. The traditional music of Gujarat is rich and varied, with a wide range of styles and forms. Gujarati folk musicians have often been at the forefront of innovation, experimenting with new sounds and styles.

One of the most significant ways in which Gujarati folk music has influenced other genres is through the use of traditional instruments. Many popular Indian instruments, such as the sitar, tabla and sarangi, have their origins in Gujarati folk music. These instruments have been adopted by musicians from other parts of India and have become an integral part of many different genres of Indian music.

Gujarati folk music has also had a significant impact on Bollywood cinema. Some of the most popular Bollywood songs have been inspired by Gujarati folk tunes. Many well-known Bollywood playback singers, such as Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, have used Gujarati folk songs as a basis for their own work.

The popularity of Gujarati folk music has also led to it being exported to other countries. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for Gujarati folk musicians in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. As more people from these countries become interested in Indian culture, they are increasingly keen to experience Gujarat’s unique musical heritage firsthand.

The popularity of Gujarati folk music.

Gujarati folk music is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, both in Gujarat and across India. This type of music has its roots in the ancient folk traditions of the region, and it is characterized by its use of simple melodies and repetitive refrains. Gujarati folk music is often based on stories or poems, and it often includes elements of humor and satire. The music is typically performed by a group of musicians, with one singer taking the lead role.