MUSIC - A MARVEL TO MANKIND

                                           

Music is a melodious and a sweet sound, but not of harsh noise. Music is entitled to relax humans and energise them mentally. It brings the positive energy there by helps the humans to sustain the pressure of the modern life. Music is an art form whose medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture  

In India music has always remained as a principle means of entertainment. Music is considered to be the queen of all arts and is perceived as a harbinger of peace and tranquillity. Patriotic feelings have been instigated within Indians through music, since the era of freedom struggle. JANA GANA MANA, the national anthem of India, by Rabindranath Tagore is largely credited for uniting India through Music. Post -independence songs such as MILE SUR MERA TUMHARA and MAA TUJHE SALAAM have been responsible for consolidating feelings of national integration and unity in diversity.

Music of India is one of the oldest unbroken musical traditions in the world. It is said that the origin of this system go back to the Vedas (ancient scripts of the Hindus) and it traces its origin to the very first sound created on the earth. The CHANTS OF VEDAS followed this foremost creation of sound and are believed to be the first music of India.

The earliest written reference of Indian music is found in the great scholar and sage BHARAT’S illustrious book NATYA SHASTRA, a landmark in the written history of fine arts including music. The history of Indian music can be trace back to many centuries. Traditionally, music was a means of communicating prayers for religious purposes and strictly in praise of God and offered to the Lord Only in Temples.  Slokas& Bhajans were the initial roots to the traditional musical form. This form later transformed as CARNATIC MUSIC in the southern parts of India, Were as in Northern regions of India this emerged as HINDUSTANI MUSIC.

                                            

HINDUSTANI MUSIC is an Indian classical music tradition that goes back to vedic times around 1000 BC. It further developed circa the 13 th and 14 th centuries AD with Persian influences and from existing religious and folk music. The practice of singing based on notes was popular even from the vedic times where the hymns in SAMA VEDA, a sacred text, were sung as SAMAGANA and not chanted. Developing a strong and diverse tradition over several centuries, it has contemporary traditions established primarily in India but also in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Classical genres are Dhrupad, Dhamar, Khyal, Tarana, and Sadra. These forms were enriched by the Persian performance practices of the Mughals.

CARNATIC MUSIC in the present form is the result of the developments from 15 th -16 th centuries. However, the form itself is reputed to have been one of the gifts bestowed on man by the Gods of Hindu mythology. It is one of the oldest musical forms that continue to survive today. CARNATIC MUSIC is melodic, with improvised variations. It consists of a composition with embellishments added to the piece in the forms of Raga Alapana, Kalpanaswaram, Neraval, and in the case of more advanced students, Ragam Tanam Pallavi. The main emphasis is on the vocals as most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in a singing style known as GAYAKI. Sri Thayagaraja, Sri Shyama sastry and Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar are considered as Trinity of Carnatic music and with them came the golden age in Carnatic music in the 18^th-19^th century. Purandaradasa is considered as the father of Carnatic music.

Light classical music or semi classical music include: thumri, dadra, ghazal, chaiti, kajri, and tappa. Folk music in India is enormous in forms with specialities & variations basing on the region they are being sung. Ganasangeet, Lavani, Rabindra sangeet Etc

Indian music with immense popularity is Flim Music.  The Indian Music industry is the second largest in the world in terms of volume, trailing only the US. Indian pop music is an interesting genre of music which creates RE MIX of songs from past Indian movie songs, new beats being added to them. Indian Hip Hop started in 1990 and Baba seghal is credited as India’s First Rapper.

Music be in any form or style the ultimate effects are soothing, refreshing & rejuvenating. Listening to Music has got many benefits and its a healer of many ailments.  Reach of music is tremendous and apart from radio, TV, FMs, Cds, pen drives,& smart phones .Musical apps is a boon . Just enjoy Music & relieve from stress.