music
Uttar Pradesh Music
No state in India can
boast off the range of music Uttar Pradesh have. The state has variety of
Classical, semi-classical and Folk genres to enthrall the visitors. In addition
to that the state is home to some of the most versatile and popular masters of
this art form. Utter Pradesh is the citadel of 'Purbaiya Ang' of Hindustani
Classical Music. The center of this unit has been Varanasi or Benaras for
years.
Starting with Eastern Uttar Pradesh one can easily conclude that this region
has given birth to most of the folk music genres in the state. Birha is the
most popular one among them. This is a mood-based genre where newly weds lament
the separation from their husbands who travel to distant places to earn their
livelihood. Chaiti is in contrast a month specific genre that is primarily sung
in the month of Chait according to the Hindu calendar. The core theme of these
songs is the amorous fight of a beloved with his lover. Kajari is also a season
specific song genre that is mostly sung in monsoon. Here too, the theme is
lament of separation but it is less sensuous in nature in comparison to Birha.
In the Awadh region, none is more popular than the Ghazal. It is basically a
system of uniting various verses in a prescribed format of meter and weight.
Thumari are another popular genre of this region. Though for years this music
form was confined to royal courts, but when it came amidst masses it became
unsurpassable in popularity. Qauwwali, or the poems of Sufis, has a pan-world
presence. It is mostly sung on the tombs of Sufi saints and has a loud vocal
that culminates to Trance at its crescendo. Marsiya on the other hand is sad in
content and recitation. Popular among the Shia Muslims in Uttar Pradesh,
Marsiya are the poetic description of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the
grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and his comrades.
Rasiya is popular in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. The theme of this folk
genre revolves predominantly around Lord Krishna's love for his consort Radha
and other milkmaids. This is generally sung during the festival of Holi in
Braj.
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