Popular
and folk music in India- There are
similarities in many societies regarding the
relationship between their 'Art' and their Folk
and Popular Musics. Many of the perceived
'complexities' of the Art Music are 'simplified'
to make the music more 'palatable' to popular
taste. In Indian music this just as true. However
the general characteristics of the music remain
to give it, the the voice production, the melodic
slides and its other qualities, a distinctly
'Indian' feel. Nowadays, with the general
acculturation to an 'International' music,
violins, synthesizers and all of the other
musical trappings of the West have found their
way into the popular music of India. Nevertheless
the music which is evolving remains Indian.
- There is an
enormous variety and repertoire of Folk Music
throughout the many regions of India and in many
places the traditions are still intact. The music
is almost invariably inseparable from the dancing
it accompanies. Styles of Folk Music are usually
specific to regions and the subject is too
complex to examine in any detail here. In every
international city there are usually people who
can illustrate an aspect of Indian Folk Music or
Dance and it is worth looking at their
performance as an option in learning about Indian
Folk Music.
