Music of Assam

The music of Assam, a state in the northeastern part of India, can be divided into various categories of folk music. In recent times a nascent music industry has emerged that caters to local popular demand too.

A basic characteristic of the ethnic music of Assam is its descending scale which distinguishes it from the raga-based or folk music from the rest of India. This style is shared by ethnic music of the hill people surrounding the state of Assam, and by the music of Thailand, Myanmar and China. Furthermore, the tunes are structured in a pyramid, in contrast to the music of rest of India which is meend based. Assam is a state with valleys and hills, and the home of many ethnic tribes. Just as the geography and varied people co-exist, the pulsating Bihu songs co-exist with languorous music of other forms.

Music has been imperative in the Assamese subsistence. There is no precise attestation to substantiate the dawning of Assamese music, however, it could be stated that Assam has been musically affluent since the naissance of the mighty Brahmaputra.

Historians claim that a distinctive culture of the conglomeration of Songs, Musical Instruments and Dance was observed in Assam during the second century. The legend of Princess Usha of Sonitpur and her cohort Chitralekha also enlighten us on the Musical expertise of the Assamese women. History also claims that Assamese Music was admired even in China.

During the Vedic era Assam was introduced with Ragas and Dhrupad Shailee of the Indian Classical music. The connoisseurs however have divided the classical Assamese music into two parts – Borgeet and Ojapali. The composers of Borgeet Mahapurush Srimanta Shankardev and his disciple Madhabdev gave a new definition to the Assamese music.

Some categories

Regional folk music

• Kamrupiya Lokageet
• Goalpariya Lokageet
• Ojapali
• Tokari geet
• Deh Bisaror Geet
• Baramahi geet
• Malita (ballad)

Ethnic folk music

• Jhumur
• Bharigaan [1]

Bihu songs

• Bihugeet
• Husori [2]

Allied styles

• Bongeet
• Biyanaam
• Nisukoni geet
• Gorokhiya Naam

Bhakti music

• Borgeet (an example xuna xuna re xura (help·info)) [3]
• Zikir and Zari
• Ainaam
• Dihanaam
• Hiranaam

Modern music

• Contemporary music

Musical instruments

• Dhol
• Gogona
• Pepa
• Taal
• Toka
• Xutuli
• Khol
• Mridanga
• Madol
• Dotara
• Dogor
• Baanhi (Flute)
• Nagera
• Ektara
• Bhortala
• Doba
• Bah jantra (Bamboo sound)
• Zuri tala

Exponents of Assamese music

• Mahapurush Srimanta Shankardev
• Sri Madhabdev
• Rudra Baruah
• Dr. Bhupen Hazarika
• Jayanta Hazarika
• Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
• Bishnu Rabha
• Parvati Prasad Baruwa
• Ambikagiri Raichowdhury
• Begum Parveen Sultana
• Apurba Kumar Das
• Mihir Bordoloi
• Jyotirmoi Kakoti
• Rani Paul
• Tarulata Das (Playback singer 1951-52)
• Hemanta Dutta
• Nurul Haque
• Bhaben Borthakur
• Indreshwar Sharma
• Sudakshina Sharma (Queen Hazarika)
• Dipali Borthakur
• Pratima Barua Pandey
• Partha Pratim Choudhury
• Aniruddha Barua
• Sher Choudhury
• Khagen Mahanta
• Samar Hazarika
• Zubeen Garg

Some other prominent composers, musicians, technicians and playback, AIR singers

• Anima Choudhury
• Angaraag Papon Mahanta
• Arun Das
• Ashim Hazarika
• Bhupen Uzir
• Birina Pathak
• Bijoy Bhuyan
• Prashun Ghosh
• Dhanada Pathak
• Dipalee Borthakur
• Dolly Ghosh
• J. P. Das
• Jayanta Das
• Jitul Sonowal
• Kalpana Patowary
• Keshab Mahanta
• Late Nupur Bordoloi
• Mahendra Hazarika
• Manisha Hazarika
• Mayukh Hazarika
• Mousumi Sohoria
• Namita Bhattarcharjya
• Nanda Banerjee
• Nilima Khatun
• Prabhat Sharma
• Apurba Kumar Das
• Pulak Banerjee
• Queen Das
• Queen Hazarika
• Rameshwar Pathak
• Ridip Dutta
• Saswati Phukan
• Sandhya Menon
• Shanta Uzir
• Surja Das
• Tarali Sharma

References

• Phukan, Mitra (2003) Musical Identity and being an Assamese, Shruti, October 2003.
• Assam Portal

External links

• Markin Kalpataru - The Oldest Assamese Internet Music Station
• Rupaliparda.com, a free resource for current happenings in Assamese entertainment world.
• Music of Assam.