FACTS ABOUT MUSIC

#1 Listening to music while working out improves your physical performance.

#2 Your favourite song is your favourite because you associate it with an emotional event in your life .

#3 Your heartbeat changes and mimics the music you listen to 

#4 Flowers can grow faster by listening to music

#5 The type of music you listen to affects the way you perceive the world.

#6  Leo fender , inventor of telecaster and stratocaster could not play guitar. 

MUSIC

MUSIC OF INDIA


No festival, celebration, movie, play or any event can ever be completed in India without mentioning music. We people are so vast and diverse that even our music is of numerous varieties. Each and every state has had a history of music which has time and again got evolved with fusion with other state's music and other influences.

So we have now a blend of wonderful classic music, bollywood style music, rock music and rap. They are both in their purest form as well as evolved.

We can classify the classical music scene in India into two parts :


    1. Hindustani
   2. Carnatic

Some other music forms are given below (although each and every region in India has their own style):

1. Rabindra Sangeet (Music of Bengal)
2. Bihu of Assam
3. Dandiya
4. Ganasangeet
5. Uttarakhandi Music
6. Lavani
7. Rajasthani

COUNTRY FOLK

Country folk is a hybrid subgenre of country and folk music closely associated with the singer-songwriter and folk rock subgenres . Country folk should not be considered the folk music we generally relate to in India. Country folk is specifically US Mid-Western music. It is generally characterized as a component of the progressive country style.

Style

Country folk has been described as a mellower and gentler form of country music with more emphasis on song writing than vocals. Many of the artists described as country folk are respected more in mainstream country circles for their song writing abilities. The lyrics of the songs tend to be more thoughtful and emotionally complex than mainstream country.

The following artists have been described as "country folk" performers :

• Johnny Cash 

• Rosanne Cash

• Mary Chapin Carpenter

• John Denver

• Bob Dylan

• Tom T Hall 

• Emmylou Harris

• Kathy Mattea

• Townes Van Zandt

• Steve Wariner

• Hoyt Axton
  

History :

The term country folk is sometimes used to describe early country music, Particularly before the development of the country and western industry based in Nashville from the 1950s. It took new meaning when it was used more specifically from the 1960s to describe the hybridization of American folk music with country music. In the early 1960s, folk musicians had been reinterpreting country songs and several country versions of folk songs, including those of BOB DYLAN , had become part of the country music. 

ELECTRONIC MUSIC INSTRUMENTS

Electronic musical instrument produces sound using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker. 

It includes user interface by adjusting the pitch , frequency and duration of each note.
The increasing power and decreasing cost of sound generating electronics and the personal computer has given rise to music controllers and music synthesizers. The most common music controllers are the Keyboard and Octapads because of their versatility.

1. ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD

Of course, this one has to top the list. It comes not just with the sound of musical instruments, but that of miscellaneous sounds as well. It comes in various sizes and is currently the backbone of the music industry. To start describing it, would be an endless discussion. This is also compatible with PCs and comes with a USB slot.

2. ROLAND OCTAPADS

This is a power packed percussion database with 8 sections; tapping on any one gives a sound variant of that instrument. The square and the tapping force determine the sound. Octapads give the effect of any percussion instrument with just drumsticks.

3. THEREMIN 

This was one of the most popular electronic musical instruments in the 1980s. It was the first musical instrument which could be played without physical contact. It consists of two antennas which sense the relative position of the user’s hand and the electric signals are converted into frequency.

4. CONTINNUM FINGERBOARD

The Continuum Fingerboard is a music performance controller and synthesizer. It has a touch playing surface. Sensors under the playing surface respond to finger position and pressure in three dimensions and provide pitch resolution of one-tenth cent along the length of the scale (the X dimension), allowing essentially continuous pitch control for effects and notes that are not in the chromatic scale, and allowing for the application of vibrato or pitch bend to a note.

SUFI MUSIC

Sufi music or devotional music is one of the fusion music which originated in northern western India and Persia, modern day Iran. It is a classic case of Hindu and Islamic synergy, though generally, it is considered as a music genre which was started by prophets. It has been a way to meditate and reach to a position which can be called divine. It also includes Qawwalli traditionally and modern fusion rock nowadays.

Some major Sufi artists known nowadays are:

• Abida Parveen
• A. R. Rahman
• Rabbi Shergill 
• Shohreh Moavenian
• Lalan Fakir 
• Kazi Nazrul Islam
• Junoon, a band from Pakistan

A CAPPELLA

A cappella is a music type where no musical instruments are needed. Well, it might be strange to the people who haven't got a chance to listen to it. However, those who have, know pretty well that all musical instruments sound can be created with human throat.

To create variety of sounds, apart from vocals, either a large group of people join and sing each musical instrument needed separately. Or like in the following video, you may see that one person records many sounds separately and then joins them all to make a song.

The following video shows how many people sing together to create A Cappella.

NEW AGE STYLES

Music always evolves, like any other art. With advent of Technology, music has taken quite a huge turn because instead of people, now music can be created solely with electronics. Electronica, Dubstep, EDM are sort of music types which are not very popular throughout the world. Artists such as Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, Daft Punk are gaining popularity with each stride. I am explaining some of these new age music types below:

1. Dubstep

According to the music website Allmusic, Dubstep's is a "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals."

Dubstep gained popularity in late 90s and 2000s but became really well known only in 2010s.

Skrillex is one of the most popular names in this genre.

2. Electronica

This is a kind of Techno music which uses a range of instruments and autotuned-edited vocals to create a computer like sound. It also uses a range of beats which can solely be produced through computers.

Daft Punk is the group which produced the most popular electronica music recently. They are a duo from French. Interestingly, they don't reveal their identity in Public and always show up wearing robotic helmets.

3. EDM

EDM stands for electronic dance music. This is kind of an umbrella term which encompasses a lot of music types. Most people would be able to relate to this kind of music because this is the most popular music which gets played in Clubs and Discotheques. 

Some popular artists of this genre are DJs like David Guetta, Avici, Swedish House Mafia, etc.

STATES AND THEIR FOLK MUSIC

India is a land of huge cultural diversity and has an incredibly rich tradition of folk music. Each region consists of its own form of folk music. This genre of music is very active in rural India as well as in some cities. Despite the fact that folk music has lost much of its popularity with the arrival of pop music culture and cinema music; there are many people out there who love this particular type of music. The presence of traditional folk music in India is still very large and is basically a village representation of Indian Society. 

The musical instruments used in folk music are often different from those found in classical music. The singers generally craft their own musical instruments, using most commonly available materials. Simple forms of instruments like Dholak, Ektara, Dhaf, Dotar, Nal etc are used in folk music. They are quite often known as their local names.

The sparkle and wealth of folk music is spread all across India. This genre of music can be found in different regions across India, some of the most popular ones that have global recognition are mentioned below:

Rajasthani:

Rajasthani folk music is quite popular on an international level and has a huge assortment of music. Musician castes like Langas, Bhopa, Sapera, Manganiyar and Jogi are found in Rajasthan. The melody of Rajasthani folk music from archaic musical instruments like Ektara, Sarangi, Shehnai, Tarpi, Kamayacha etc provides enjoyable music that enlightens the listeners. From huge colorful Dhols to tiny Damrus, the musical instruments come in all sizes, shapes and colors. The spirit of Rajasthani music comes from the artistic symphony of musical instruments, accompanied by melodious voice of folk singers. The presence of Rajasthani folk music can be seen in cinema music too.

Lavani:

Taken from the word “Lavanya” which means Beauty, this form of folk music is quite popular form of music along with dance in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The songs are traditionally sung by female artists but occasionally male artists may sing too. Performed to the captivating beats of “Dholika”, a Drum-like music instrument, it’s a combination of traditional songs and dance. The songs are sung in fast tempo and women in sarees dance with enthusiasm on fast rhythm and beats of Lavani.

Bihu:

The festival symbolizes the beginning of a New Year for the people of Assam. The festival is dedicated to nature and man. Traditional drums and wind instruments along with Bihu dances and songs are an important part of this festival.

Bhangra:

Originating in Punjab, Bhangra is an energetic and colorful form of dance and music. Being a part of harvest celebrations, it has become a part of various occasions like weddings, New Years, Events etc. Bhangra Enjoys a worldwide popularity, there is lot of mixing and fusion going on with other popular genres like Hip-Hop, Reggae etc

Uttarakhandi folk music:

Born in the lap of nature, the music is blessed with the warmth and touch of Mother Nature. The music in these parts relate to various festivals, traditions, stories and the simplicity of life in the Himalayas; giving us a pure reflection of their cultural heritage.

Dandiya:

From the state of Gujarat comes Dandiya, a form of dance-oriented folk music. With changing times the music has also been adapted for pop music. It is actually a kind of dance rather than music.

Dollu Kunita:

Named after the percussion instrument “Dollu”, it is performed by men of Kuruba community in Karnataka. 16 dancers wear the drum and beat it rhythmically while dancing. The beat is controlled by a leader with cymbals who is positioned in the center. Slow and fast rhythms patterns emerge making it an energetic performance.

Bhavageete:

A form of expressive poetry and light music on subjects like love, nature, values etc the music is similar to Ghazals. This type of folk music is pretty popular in many parts of India, especially in Karnataka.

Naatupura Paatu:

Originated in Tamil, the folk music consists of Gramathisai i.e. village folk music and Gana i.e. urban folk music.

As India has a vast enriching culture, each region has diverse form of Folk music. To list them all together is unfeasible but if looked at a particular region it is possible to get an in-depth acquaintance about the various folk music that region has to offer.

TOP MUSICIANS IN INDIA

Musicians in India are a revered bunch of talented individuals. Their melodies, tunes, compositions, poetry and voice have mesmerized audiences for ages.

They hold a special place in Bollywood and are major influencers in public domain. Here are the 10 most popular music artists from the industry over the years.

Top artists :

1) Ilaiyaraaja 

Ilaiyaraaja is a revered name in the Tamil music industry. He is a composer, singer and lyricist par excellence. Over the past three decades, Ilaiyaraaja has composed for almost a thousand movies and recorded 4500 songs. He is known for fusing Western and Indian sensibilities and appealing to generations of fans. Winner of four National Awards, Ilaiyaraaja is also referred as ‘Isaignani’, which translates to Musical Genius.

2)  Sahir Ludhianvi 

This Padma Shri awardee was born as Abdul Hayee in Ludhiana in 1921. His teaming with SD Burman and Guru Dutt ensured that Ludhianvi gave some of the most meaningful poetry to Hindi films. Hit the record of Pyaasa, Kabhie Kabhie and Waqt for proof. After Dutt, Ludhianvi was the lyricist of preference for BR Chopra and Yash Chopra.

3)  AR Rahman 

He really needs no introduction. Rahman has been the most popular musician to emerge out of India over the past decade. During that time, he has given us innumerable memorable scores, toured the world, created  music for some of the biggest names in the global music scene, won two Academy and Grammy Awards each, four National Awards and a BAFTA Award and divides his time between Los Angeles and India these days. Nicknamed the ‘Mozart of Madras’, Rahman was named by Time magazine as one of the World’s Most Influential People in 2009.

4) Laxmikant-Pyarelal 

or L-P as they’re referred to, are one of the most dynamic and popular musicians from Bollywood. The duo is known to have successfully experimented with different styles such as Indian classical music, Western beats, disco numbers and rock-n-roll in their music. So popular was their music that ever since they teamed up in 1963, their OSTs had been nominated at the Filmfare Awards almost every year until their partnership was broken when Laxmikant died in 1998.

5) Lucky Ali 

Lucky Ali made a splash with his solo albums. His rugged voice and disarming lyrics won him instant support from teenagers and it was a matter of time before he joined playback singing. Although not as regular on the singing circuit, Ali’s songs have always been popular with the audience. His soulful style of crooning has yet to be matched by any other singer. To this day, it is possible to pop in any of his albums, sit back and get drowned in his mesmerizing voice.

6) Sunidhi Chauhan 

Sunidhi Chauhan is one of the most popular female playback singers today. From beginning to sing at the age of four and being discovered on TV show Meri Awaz Suno, her story is as interesting as her vocal range. Besides Hindi, Chauhan has also recorded songs in other Indian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali and Gujarati. Almost every other Hindi film features at least one song sung by Chauhan today, making her one of the busiest and wanted singers in Bollywood. And to think she’s just 29!

7)  Sonu Nigam 

Sonu Nigam is the Aamir Khan of playback singing—the eternal chocolate boy. His love ballads first brought him into the limelight. Later, his music videos made him a household name before he took the plunge into full time playback singing, giving audiences some of the best love songs over the past few years. Trained by Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan and growing up with father Agam Kumar Nigam, himself a known singer, Sonu was lucky to find his niche quickly. He also acted in a few films but we’ll forgive him that for the sheer pleasure of listening to his songs.

8) RD Burman - 
One of the most influential music directors in Bollywood, Panchamda (as RD Burman was popularly called) left his mark on the industry for good. He mentored many upcoming composers of the 80s and created path-breaking songs, winning many fans from across the country. Heavily inspired by world music, especially Latin and Arabic music forms, Panchamda created some experimental fusion music that became all the rage. Many DJs today still remix some of his more popular songs while his fusion music is still practised by many composers.

9) Asha Bhosle 

Asha Bhosle has been singing since 1943. That’s before even your parents were probably born. So much so that Bhosle asserted she has sung over 12,000 songs, a claim that turned into fact when the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged her as the most recorded music artist in the history of music! And if you thought she had slowed down with advancing age, hear this. Bhosle made her acting debut this year with a film called Mai in the title role, receiving praise from fans and critics alike.

10) Lata Mangeshkar 

Lata Mangeshkar is synonymous with Indian music. If you happen to hear any popular song from black and white movies to soulful renditions from just a few years past, it is possible that both songs will have playback by Mangeshkar. The singer, referred to as ‘India’s Nightingale’, is one of the most recognized faces in music across the world and commands the highest respect from all quarters of the industry. She has won several music and national awards and has only recently slowed down her pace of work.

11) Arijit Singh 

He is an Indian playback singer and a music programmer.  He was bestowed with the Best Male Playback Singer award for the song, in 59th Filmfare Awards. In 2014, he collaborated with Jeet Ganguli for whom he performed the rest of his tracks in Aashiqui 2 —for citylights, where he rendered the romantic version  of the song "muskurane", which fetched him most nominations in the year. Ganguli composed Suno Na Sangermarmar and Shankar Ehsaan Loy,"mast magan"  garnered him another two nominations in 60th filmfare awards.

TYPES OF MUSIC

Music encompasses a huge variety of styles. Broadly speaking, Music includes multiple variety of folk music, jazz music, western classical music, patriotism, pop music and Indian classical music. Music began as a integral part of socio-religious life and also solely for entertainment. I am listing some broad classifications as far as India is concerned here :

1) Classical music : 

The two main traditions of classical music are Carnatic music which is found in the peninsular region and Hindustani music which is found in the northern, eastern and central regions. The basic concept of this music includes Shruti (microtones), Swara (notes), Alankar (Ornamentations), Raag (Melodies) and Taal (rhythmic patterns). 

* Hindustani classical music: 

It is the north Indian style of Indian classical music. This style is sometimes called as " North Indian Classical Music". It is originated in Vedic ritual chants and has emerged as a distinct form because of Persian and Islamic influences in Northern India.

* Carnatic classical music : 

It is commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian Subcontinent with its area confined to Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu , Kerala and Karnataka.

This style is evolved from ancient Hindu traditions and has main emphasis on vocal music. Carnatic music is mainly sung through compositions especially the "Kriti".

2) Folk Music : 

Folk music involves traditional music of the communities and is mainly geography based.

3) Popular Music : 

This type of music belongs to any number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and tradition music. 

Popular music is sometimes called as "pop music".

4) Jazz music : 

It is a genre of music that originated in African - American communities in the United stated in the late 19th and 20th century. It emerged in the form of independent musical styles all link by the bond of African American musical parentage with a performance orientation . Jazz has proved to be very difficult to define since it encompasses such a wide range of music spanning a period of over 100 years from ragtime to the present day.