Glossary of Indian Music (Part – 08)

Collection by: Gurumayum Shivachandra Sharma
Cultural Activist
1. Raigarh Gharana: In Indian traditions, the Raigarh Gharana is a tradition of Indian Classical Kathak Dance that established by Raja Chakradhar Singh Bahadur during his reign, which produced many luminaries, dancers, singers and musicians due to his patronage and philanthropy. He invented a new dance form by mixing different dance forms, which led to foundation of Raigarh Gharana.
2. Rampur Sahaswan Gharana: In North Indian Classical Music, the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana is a style of singing stress on the clarity of Sangeet Swaras and the development and elaboration of the Raag is done through a stepwise progression. This Gharana is founded by Ustad Inayat Khan, and some of the exponent singers of this Gharana are Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, Ustad Rashid Khan, Sulochana and Brihaspati.
3. Bhendi Bazaar Gharana: In North Indian Classical Music, the most distinctive feature of the Bhendi Bazaar Gharana is the presentation of Khayal, which is open voice, using Akar. There is a stress on breath-control and singing of long passages in one breath is highly regarded in this Gharana. This form of Gharana is founded by Ustad Chajju Khan, and some of the important singers of this Gharana are Ustad Aman Ali Khan, Shashikala Koratkar and Anjanibai Malpekar.
4. Mewati Gharana: In North Indian Classical Music, the Mewati Gharana gives importance in developing the mood of the Raag through the Sangeet Swaras forming it and its style is Bhava Pradhan. It also gives equal importance to the meaning of the text. This Gharana is founded by Ghagge Nazir Khan, and some of the exponents of the Mewati Gharana are Pandit Jasraj, Moti Ram, Mani Ram, Sanjeev Abhyankar, etc,.
5. Bishnupur Gharana: In North Indian Classical Music, the Bishnupur Gharana or Vishnupur Gharana is a form of classical singing that follows the Dhrupada Dhamar tradition of Indian music. This Gharana is originated from Bishnupur, West Bengal, India in the late 18th century with its roots dating back to the 13th to 14th centuries. This style of Gharana is founded by a Dhrupada singer Bahadur Khan.
6. Vadya Shastra: Those devices or instruments that create or adapt to make musical sounds are known as the Vadya Jantra or Musical Instruments. So, it can be say that, any thing that produces a musical sound can be considered as a Vadya Jantra or Musical Instruments. Therefore, in Indian Classical Music, those musical instruments use in this tradition are known as the Vadya Shastra or Indian Classical Musical Instruments. There are Four 4 types of musical instruments, namely, a) Tata Vadya (Chordophones Musical Instruments or String Instruments), b) Avanaddha Vadya (Membranophones Musical Instruments or Percussion Instruments), c) Sushira Vadya (Aerophones Musical Instruments or Wind Instruments) and d) Ghana Vadya (Ideonophones Musical Instruments or Non Percussion Instruments) respectively.
7. Tata Vadya: In Indian Classical Music, the Tata Vadya (Chordophones Musical Instruments or String Instruments) are those musical instruments that differ in shape, size and number of strings. And, there are different methods of playing these instruments with the help of nail, striker or through a bow. Some examples of these musical instruments are: a) Tanpura or Tambura, b) Veena, c) Sarod, d) Dilruba, e) Violin, f) Santoor, g) Surbahar, h) Rabab, i) Guitar, j) Sitar, k) Pena (Manipuri), l) Ektara, m) Mandolin, n) Ukulele, o) Sarangi, p) Esraj, etc,.
8. Avanaddha Vadya: In India Classical Music, the Avanaddha Vadya (Membranophones Musical Instruments or Percussion Instruments) are those musical instruments which are hollow from the inside or type of a vessel covered by a thick membrane. Some examples of these musical instruments are: a) Pakhawaj, b) Dhol, c) Dholak, d) Tabla, e) Mridanga, f) Manipuri Khol (Manipuri Manoharshai), g) Meitei Pung (Manipuri Nata Eshei), h) Langden (Manipuri), i) Dambaru, j) Naal, k) Duff, etc,.
9. Sushira Vadya: In Indian Classical Music, the Sushira Vadya (Aerophones Musical Instruments or Wind Instruments) are those musical instruments having various holes in which the air is blown and resonated or vibrates creating different tones or sound. Some of the examples of these musical instruments are: a) Shehnai, b) Bansuri or Flute, c) Harmonium, d) Nadaswaram, e) Magudi, f) Alghoza, g) Shinga, h) Sankh, i) Moibung (Manipuri Conch), j) Clarinet, k) Saxophone, etc,.
10. Ghana Vadya: In Indian Classical Music, the Ghana Vadya (Ideonophones Musical Instruments or Non Percussion Instruments) are those musical instruments that are not exactly hollow from inside and can only produce only one type of tones. They cannot produce more than one sound and hence variation is not possible with these instruments. Some of the examples of these type of musical nstruments are: a) Ramtal (Manipuri Manoharshai), b) Kartal (Manipuri Nata Eshei), c) Manjira or Mandila, d) Ghatam, e) Gopichand, f) Jal Tarang, g) Kasht Tarang h) Gong or Sembung, i) Jhal, j) Mangang, k) Morchanga, l) Chimta, etc,.