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Gujarat, especially Saurashtra has a rich heritage in music.
Gujarat has given some of the best musicians to India. The variety and
vividness of the folk music in the state is witness to the fact that
Gujarat has flourished as a cultural state in all these years.
According to a legend the famous musicians, Baiju Bawra and Tana-Riri who
saved Tansen from the burning effects of the 'Deepak Rag' by singing 'Rag
Malhar', belong to Gujarat.
INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
Classical:
In the field of music, Gujarat has made its own contribution. A number of
ragas bear the territorial names of Gujarat such as Gujari Todi, Bilaval
(from Veraval), Sorathi, (from Sorath), Khambavati (from Khambhat,
Cambay), Ahiri and Lati. 'Gujar Tod', 'Bilaval' and 'Khambhavati' said to
be named respectively after Gujarat, Veraval and Cambay are Gujarat's
contributions to classical music.
Narsinh Mehta who wrote the famous bhajan 'Vaishnavajan' was also from
Gujarat. It is believed that 'Rag Kedar' when sung by him, brought him
communion with Lord Krishna.
Folk:
'Charans' and 'Gadhavis', a community whose hereditary profession is folk
music and folk arts, have preserved the folk music of Gujarat in its pure
and pristine form. Lullaby, nupital songs, festive songs, 'Rannade' songs
are the different types of folk songs in Gujarat. 'Marsias' is a peculiar
form of singing at the time of death. The Vaishnav Cult in Gujarat has
produced a special variety of music, which can be classified as
temple-music.
Sugam Sangeet:
Light music or 'Sugam Sangeet' is in a way, a derivation of all the
streams of music into a popular format. The fresh and original Gujarati
Ghazals are the most popular variety.
Meaningful and lyrically worded poetry is composed in sweet tunes, where
the tight standards of classical music are not must, but the images of
light music do depend on classical touch. The wordings of the poetry are
the basis for light music.
The endeavour in light music is to express and manifest the sentiments of
the word through its tune and composition. The poet and the composer thus
meet together and combine their skills for a more meaningful, fruitful and
effective expression. Light music is supposed to be constituted of
sentiments and culture.
THE UNMATCHED EXPONENTS OF INDIAN MUSIC
Gujaratis have contributed some of the noted treatises on music; these
include Dahyalal Shivram's 'Sangeet Kaladhar' and Adityaram Vyas's
'Sangeetaditya'.
Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, one of the greatest exponents of Indian
classical music hailed from Gujarat. In modern times Ustad Faiyazkhan,
Maulabaksh, the 'been' player Rahim Khan and many others belonged to
Gujarat. Jesingbhai, the creator of the 'Vichitra Veena', a musical string
instrument, was from Ahmedabad. These are invaluable gifts of Gujarat to
the classical music of India.
MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENTS
Besides its contribution to classical and folk music, Gujarat has
produced its own folk instruments. Among the various instruments, there
have been wind instruments like Turi, Bungal, Pava; string type Ravan
Hattho, Ektaro, and Jantar and percussion instruments like 'Manjira',
'Zanz' and 'pot drum' etc.