Important GK for AISSEE // Art and Culture of India // Important Questions for Sainik School Admission // कला और संस्कृति // सैनिक स्कूल प्रवेश परीक्षा महत्वपूर्ण प्रश्न //Art and Culture (Music, Classical and Folk Dance); Renowned Personalities, Instrumental and Vocal Music, Major Dance Forms
Culture
Culture refers to a human-made environment which includes all the material and non- material products of group life that are transmitted from one generation to the next. These may be transmitted through symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiment as artifacts. The essential core of culture thus lies in those finer ideas, by means of which people communicate, perpetuate and develop their knowledge about and express their attitudes toward life.
Dance
In traditional Indian culture the function of dance was to give symbolic expression to religious ideas.
Classical Dance
These dance forms are based on ancient dance discipline and have rigid rules of presentation. Few of them are BharataNatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Manipuri, Kuchipudi and Odissi.
Forms of Classical dance
1. Bharata Natyam (Tamil Nadu)
The Abhinaya Darpana by Nandikesvara is one of the main sources of textual material, for the study of the technique and grammar of body movement in Bharatnatyam Dance. It traces its origins back to the Natyashastra written by Bharata. Instruments use in Bharatnatyam are Mridangam, Violin, Veena, Flute and Talam.
2. Kathakali (Kerala)
The word Kathakali literally means "Story-Play". Kathakali is known for its heavy, elaborate makeup and costumes. The dancers wear large head dresses, and the different colors of the face are extended with moulded lime. Instruments use in Kathakali are Chenda, Maddalam, Cymbals and Ela taalam.
3. Kathak (North India)
Katha, meaning "the art of storytelling." It is performed by both men and women. Lucknow, Banaras and Jaipur are recognized as the three schools. Instruments use in Kathak are Pakwaj, Tabla, Harmonium, Sarengi and Talam (cymbals).
4. Manipuri (Manipur)
The most striking part of Manipur dance is its colorful decoration, lightness of dancing foot, delicacy of abhinaya (drama), smooth and graceful movements. The Lai Haroba, a ritualistic dance depicting the Creation, is considered the precursor of Manipuri as seen today. Instruments used in Manipuri are Pung and cymbals.
5. Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
Kuchipudi exhibits scenes from the Hindu Epics, legends and mythological tales through a combination of music, dance and acting. Traditionally the dance was performed by men, even the female roles, although now it is predominantly performed by women. Instruments used in Kuchipudi are Mridangam, Violin, Veena, Flute and Talam.
6. Odissi (Odisha)
It is predominantly a dance for women, with postures that replicate those found in temple sculptures. Odissi has two major facets: (1) Nritta (2) Abhinaya. Instruments use in Odissi are Pakwaj, table, harmonium, flute and cymbals.
7. Sattriya (Assam)
Sattriya Nritya was usually performed in the Sattras (Assam monasteries) in a highly ritualistic manner by male dancers alone. Both solo and group numbers enrich its presentation. The dresses are usually made of pat, a type of silk produced in Assam.
8. Mohiniattam (Kerala)
The name Mohiniattyam literally means ' dance of the Enchantress'. Apart from mythology, Mohiniattam perform on the themes from nature. Mohiniattyam was female orientated art form only female were supposed to perform but at present male also practicing and performing.
Folk Dance
Indian folk dances are practiced in the rural areas and performed during the religious or seasonal festivals. Some of the most popular folk dances region-wise performed across the India are as under :-
1. Chhau dance : Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal
2. Kalbella : Rajasthan
3. Dumhal : Jammu and Kashmir
4. Hikat & Namagen : Himachal Pradesh
5. Chholiya : Uttarakhand
6. Bangra : Punjab
7. Gaur : Madhya Pradesh
8. Karma Dance : Chattisgarh
9. Padayani : Kerala
10. Kummi and Kolattam : Tamil Nadu
11. Naga Dances : Nagaland
12. Bihu : Assam
13. Nongkrem : Meghalaya
14. Thang-ta & Dhol –Cholom : Manipur
15. Lahoor : Haryana
16. Dollu Kunitha : Karnataka
17. Lava Dance : Lakshadweep
18. Lavani : Maharashtra
Music
Music in India is the reflection of the diverse elements - racial, linguistic and cultural. It plays a vital role in the religious, social and artistic life of the heterogeneous population of the country. Today there are two systems of classical music: the Hindustani and the Carnatic. Carnatic music is confined to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The classical music of the rest of the country goes under the name, Hindustani Classical Music.
Types of Hindustani Music and its meaning
Dhrupad : Effort from vocal chords and lungs
Dhamar : Play of Krishna during holy
Khayal : Delicate, romantic and based on imagination.
Thumri : Romantic religious literature
Tappa : Quick turn of phase
Bhajan : Religious devotional songs
Tarana : Syllables stung together to set a rhythm
Sabadas : Sikh religious songs
Qawali : Indo- Muslim repertories of songs in groups.
Ghazal : Independent couplets on love and devotion
Renowned Personalities associated with Instrumental and Vocal Music
Musical
Instruments |
Person |
Santoor |
Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma, Bhajan Sopori |
Flute |
Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pannalal Ghosh |
Tabla |
Zakir Hussain, Allah Rakha, Sabir Khan, Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Pt. Jnan
Prakash Ghosh, Sandeep Das |
Sarod |
Allauddin Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, Buddhadev Das Gupta |
Shehnai |
Bismillah Khan, Krishna Ram Chaudhary, Ali Ahmad Hussain |
Sitar |
Pt Ravi Shankar, Shahid Parvez Khan, Budhaditya Mukherjee, Anushka
Shankar |
Saarangi |
Shakoor Khan, Pt Ram Narayan, Ramesh Mishra, Sultan Khan |
Veena |
Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, Ayyagari Syamasundaram, Doraiswamy Iyengar |
Rudra Veena |
Asad Ali Khan |
Mohan Veena |
Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhat (inventor of Mohan Veena) |
Violin |
M.S. Gopalakrishnan, Smt M. Rajam, N.R. Muralidharan, M. Chandrasekharan,
V.G. Jog, Lalgudi Jayaraman |
Ghatam |
T.H. Vinayakram, E.M. Subramaniam |
Mridangam |
K.V. Prasad, S.V. Rajarao, Umalayapuram Sivaraman |
Mandolin |
U Srinivas |
Pakhawaj |
Totaram Sharma |
Surbahaar |
Annapurna Devi |
Guitar |
Braj Bhushan Kabra |
Vocalist (Carnatic Music) |
S. Radhakrishna Srinivasa Iyer, M.S. Subbulakshmi, M. Balamuralikrishna,
D. K. Pattammal, Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, S Pinakapani |
Vocalist (Hindustani Music) |
Kumar Gandharva, Mallikarjun Bheemarayappa Mansur, Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit
Jasraj, Gangubai Hangal, Kishori Amonkar, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Rahim
Fahimuddin Dagar, Chhannu Lal Mishra, Ramakant Gundecha, Umakant Gundecha,
Rajan and Sajan Mishra |
Wind Instruments |
Percussion Instruments |
String Instruments |
Flute |
Tabla |
Guitar |
Clarinet |
Mridungam |
Violin |
Shehnai |
Drum |
Sitar |
Saxophone |
Dholak |
Banjo |
Bagpipe |
Cymbal |
Sarod |
Harmonica |
Xylophone |
Saarangi |
Trumpet |
Ghatam |
Veena |
Piano |
Pakhawaj |
Surbahaar |
Harp |
Bells |
Mandolin |