Folk music of Punjab

General features of musical style

Rhythm

The rhythm of Punjabi folk music is very simple. unlike the rhythms of Bhangra music which are generally complex

Melody

Some songs like Heer and Mirza are sung using the traditional compositions.

Folk songs

Punjab has folk songs on birth, marriage, funeral, death, love, separation, beauty, social and economical status, village lifestyle, food, nature, bravery, folklores and folktales, folk romances, folk and historical heroes, festivals and many more. The songs of professional castes of Punjab are also included in the folk songs. They can be divided into the following categories:

Occasion for singing

Controversy

Punjabi folk music is associated with a traditional lifestyle and culture. Many of the themes associated with the songs of today, which are mostly relevant in Bhangra songs, involve the promotion of the ills of Punjabi society such as the caste system and substance abuse as well as superstitious beliefs. Many revolutions in Punjab such as the Sikh revolution were in direct opposition of Punjabi folk songs.

Life-cycle rituals

A large part of Punjabi folk songs presents the picture of incidents from birth to death Ghorhian, Bolian, Tappe, Sithnian, Chhand, Heara, Lorian, etc.

Fairs and festivals

Every festive occasion has music associated with it. Lohri and Maghi are associated with the change of season while Vaisakhi is a harvest festival. Men dance Bhangra and women dance Giddha. The month of Sawan is one of great joy for females in which they celebrate the festival of Teeyan. The married ones come back to their parents' home and meet their family and friends and in an open ground they dance Giddha. They wear colorful dresses like Phulkari, and adorn their hands with Mehndi and glass bangles.

Types of textual themes

Romantic

Jugni, Mahia, Tappe, Jindua, Dhola, Kafian, Dohre, Bolian, Sadda, Jhokan and the folk romances of Punjab region like Heer Ranjha, Mirza Sahiban, Sohni Mahiwal, Sassi Punnun are main folk love songs. Heer and Mirza are sung using traditional compositions.

Heroic

In heroic or bravery, the folk song includes about the Punjabi heroes like Dulla Bhatti, Raja Rasalu, Jagga Jatt, S. Bhagat Singh, S. Udham Singh, Sucha Soorma and Jeona Morh.

Religious

Main article: Sikh music

Songs about worship, religious ceremonies and festivals represents the religious feelings.

Sikhism is closely related with music. The sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, established the singers called Dhadis to sing the Gurbani, Vaars (English: heroic ballads) and other folk genres using the normally two folk instruments, Dhad and Sarangi.

The other religions like Islam have Qawwalis, Naats and Hamds and Hinduism have Bhajans and Punjabi have Punjabi songs.

Instruments

Main article: Folk instruments of Punjab

Punjabi singers may sing unaccompanied or along with such traditional instruments as dhol, tumbi, dhadd, sarangi, gharha, gagar, chimta, or algoze, Iktara, Bugchu, Chhaine, Kainchi, Sapp, Kato.

References

References

1. Pande, Alka. (1999). "Folk music and musical instruments of Punjab". Mapin Publishers.
2. Thind, Karnail Singh. (2002). "Punjab Da Lok Virsa". [[Punjabi University, Patiala.
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4. "ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਲੋਕ-ਗੀਤ".
5. Sharma, Manorma. (2009). "Musical heritage of India".
6. (October 1, 2011). "Punjab heritage comes alive on concluding day". [[The Tribune (Chandigarh).
7. (May 21, 1999). "Power failure hits show". [[The Tribune (Chandigarh).
8. (February 19, 2011). "Two plays staged". [[The Tribune (Chandigarh).
9. Maini, Darshan Singh. (1979). "Studies in Punjabi poetry". Vikas.
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11. (January 8, 2012). "Lahore's Crumbling Gateways". [[The Tribune (Chandigarh).
12. (January 13, 2010). "'Dulla Bhatti' traces heroic deeds of folk character". [[The Tribune (Chandigarh).
13. (January 20, 1999). "The all-pervading spirit". [[The Tribune (Chandigarh).