Types of Bengali Folk Songs

[paulami]

(as discussed in Orkut Community of this forum)

Bangla folk music has a long history. Several people contributed to what has become one of the most important musical influences in lives of Bengalis on both sides of the (West Bengal-Bangladesh) border. Among these are Lalon Fokir, Hason Raja and Ramesh Shill. Abbas Uddin was a key player in popularising folk music later on.

Folk music can clearly be distinguished and classified into several sub-genres:

Baul: mainly inspired by Lalon Fokir and his Sufi way of living and almost exclusively performed by hermits who have adopted such (Sufi) life style

Bhandari: devotional music from the South (mainly Chittagong)

Bhatiali: music of fishermen and boatman, almost always tied by a common raga (mode), sung solo

Bhawaiya: song of bullock-cart drivers of the North (Rangpur)

Gajir geet: tradition song from the North (Rangpur)

Gombhira: song (originating in Chapai Nawabganj, in the North) performed with a particular distinctive rhythm and dance with two performers, always personifying a man and his grand father, discussing a topic to raise social awareness

Hason Raja: devotional songs written by music composer Hason Raja (from Sylhet near Assam) that was recently repopularised as popular dance music

Jaari: song that involves musical battle between two groups

Jatra Pala: songs associated exclusively with plays (performed on-stage) that usually always involve historical themes presented in a very colourful way

Kirtan: devotional song depicting love of Hindu god Krishno and his (best-known) wife, Radha

Pala: songs from the haor (lake) area in Sylhet, Kishoregonj, and Netrokona usually performed on stage live by folk singers

Kobi gaan: poems sung with simple music usually presented on stage as a musical battle between poets

Lalon: best known of all folk songs and the most import sub-genre of Baul songs, almost entirely attribute to spiritual writer and composer, Lalon Fokir of Kustia (Western Bangladesh, near the border with West Bengal)

Mursiya: Islamic songs of devotion of the Shi'ah groups based mainly on Western influences

Shaari: song of boatmen sung in group to match the beat of the oar movement

Upojatiyo: songs of the minor ethnic groups - worth noting, this is not really a classification since songs of these ethnic groups (of which there are at least 13 different groups) vary widely and have very distinct and intriguing characteristics

Letto's song: songs from Mymensingh (North of Dhaka) that also allegedly influenced Nazrul geeti

Wedding songs: sung all over Bangladesh but always tied by similar tunes and by, obviously, a common theme, marriage.

Of these several groups, Baul song is best known and was further enriched by works of Lalon.

All folk songs are characterised by simple musical structure and words. Before advent of radio, stage performances of folk singers used to be possibly the only entertainment for the vast rural population of Bengal. After arrival of new communication and digital media, many of the folk songs were modernised and incorporated into modern songs (Adhunik songeet).

Jhumur (from the Birbhum-Medinipur areas) and the songs of Bhawba Pagla, a wandering misntrel in the Sufi mould, with a generous smattering of the much celebrated 'Dehotawtto'...

Paulami:
In this thread we can discuss the folk flavour in Kabir's songs. Nagarik Kabial is one of them. This song starts with a Baul rhythm, which is just superb.

Srijit:
Khata dekhe gaan geyo naa - Bhairabi Baul
Jodi bhaabo kinchho aamaaye - Ditto
Kobi - Ditto
Debdaru - Partially Kirtanango
Refrain of Tomake chai- Ditto
Bnashuriya - Folk from the 'West', the Bengal-Bihar border
Byangoma byangomi - Jhumur
Etodin ghum/Hoponete more - Raangaali Bihu from Assam
Doshoroth gelen mrigoyaye - MP folk

Jayanta:
Bnashuriya- Gaan ta kintu 'Bhatiwoali' Gaan'er Dhanch'ea tairi. Mukhra ti to Boteai. Kiron Cassette Company'r (BanglaDesh) " Potro Likho Bondhu " gaan tir Adole tairi. Eai Gaan tir Tempo dui Ghaat komale Puro ' Basuria Bajao Basi" sur ekdom mile jai . Ar SumanDa boleai eta Somvob

Srijit:
Ekhaane ektu motobirodh achche....taal er dik diye Bnashuriya konobhaabei Bhatiyalir shob cheye jonoprio duteenti ti taaler modhye pore naa (Beshom doriya, Shundoira naaoer majhi, Naao chhaaraaiyya de)...bawrong onek beshi kachchakachhi Birbhum er shokio taaler (Lal maatir shawraane, Lal paharir deshe jaa) jaa hoito Assamese folk ero onek kaachchakaachhi..
Aar shurer dik diye bhatiyalir theke onek beshi prokawt kirtan er probhaab...kichhu shawr hoito bhatiyalir kawtha mone kawraate paare..kintu shei kaakotalio ghotona shudhu bangla keno, bishsher nana folk form er modhyei aachhe..

Joydip:
suman nije bolen tomake chai er tomake chai dhuo ti kirtonanger

Srijit:
Amar mone Hoy tui ' Bhaouya' r kotha Bolchis 'Bhatiyali' Noy.
ar kichu ta Baktigoto hole'o bolte badha neai SumanDa kintu eta jane abong bole'o chilo , SumanDar Barite Kiron Company'er Cassttee er maghe ami ' Potro Likhi Bondhu' namer oi album ti' o achea.
Tobu Hoito ba amar Bhul hote pare, arektu dekhis ...... ar eai dhoroner alochona ekhon ar khub besi OnLine Community guli te dekhai jai na .
Eai Dhoroner alochona Sotti Moner pokhea Sorir'er pokhea Pustikor.

Apnader motamoter opekhayi...