The essence of Bengal is known as Rabindra Sangeet, or Rabindro Songit in Bengali. These compilations of more than 2000 songs, which were written by the renowned author Rabindranath Tagore, not only feature beautiful word-and-music interplay but also uniquely touch on human emotions. The reservoir of Rabindra Sangeet, which consists of 2233 songs created by Rabindranath Tagore, is known as Gitabitan.
Few authors in the history of literature have written as much and as deeply as Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the 1913 Nobel Prize winner for literature. But what Rabindranath Tagore accomplishes with Rabindra Sangeet is astounding. The songs’ rhythm, which draws extensively from classical Indian, folk, and other world music, exhibits craftsmanship in addition to the lyricism of the lyrics.
Songs Themes
A collector of melodic and compositional styles, Rabindranath Tagore. He encountered the musical narratives of the West and the South of India during his extensive travels around the globe, and several of his songs incorporate these traditions. His work can be divided into various categories. The genre-based ones, such as devotional (Puja Porjaay) and romantic (Prem Porjaay), are the ones that beginners use the most frequently. [Note: It is frequently challenging, if not impossible, to establish a song’s genre upon hearing it. The distinction between the two is muddled by some of Tagore’s own works, like Tomarei Koriyachi Jibonero Dhrubotara. Tagore did not make these distinctions either. The need to organise, collect, and subsequently preserve his work didn’t arise until after his passing; it was in response to this need that the genre-classification system was created.] Summer (Grishho), monsoon (Borsha), autumn (Shorot), early winter (Hemonto), winter (Sheet), spring (Boshonto); diverse (Bichitro); and patriotic (Deshatmobodhok) are examples of seasonal (Prokriti Porjaay) expressions. Even though Deshatmobodh and patriotism have opposite concepts, there are still challenges in translating his songs, except from those written for his various plays and dance-dramas and those designated for specific dates or events (Aanushtthanik).
The Melody
Rabindra Sangeet has a diverse and expansive genre. Due to his extensive travels and engagements, Kabiguru Rabindranath heard a variety of musical genres. As a result, it is difficult to categorise his tunes. Because he did not think the preexisting taals did his poems credit, Tagore produced roughly six additional taals. Thus, Rabindra Sangeet is a synthesis of Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, Western music, and Bengali folk music. In addition to the influence of Indian classical music, such as Hindustani thumri, the works also incorporate the Baul genre of Bengal, Keertanang, melodies of Lalon Fakir, and Sadhak Ramprasad Sen. With influences from Christmas carols and Scottish ballads, Western music also has a place in Rabindra Sangeet. Flute, esraj, ektaara, taanpura, sitar, dotaara, tabla, khol, piano, and pump organ are some of the musical instruments utilised in Rabindra Sangeet.
Amar Porano Jaha Chay, Amar Hiyar Majhe, Bhalobashi Bhalobashi, Ei Korechho Bhalo, Elem Natun Deshey, Sokhi Bhabana Kahare Bole, Purano Shei Diner Kotha, and many others are among the most well-known songs from Rabindra Sangeet. In fact, Rabindra Sangeet’s influences can be heard in Bollywood with songs like Chhukar mere man ko and Tere mera Milan ki yeh raina (Tomar holo shuru, amar holo shara).
The Bengali culture is very important because of Rabindra Sangeet. Rabindra Sangeet is sung and studied in almost all Bengali homes. All Bengalis, regardless of where they live, can relate to Tagore’s passion of poetry and music, which was heightened by the Kabi Guru. Rabindra Sangeet is a delightful experience because of the language’s sweetness, the effectiveness and expertise with which words are used, and the smooth flow of emotions and feelings that occasionally hover above the music’s precisely carved rhythm and other times sink far below it. A satisfying, intuitive experience that connects on all levels with the vocalist and the audience. Wait no longer to be enchanted by the charm of Rabindra Sangeet if you haven’t already. Connect to Youtube or Saregama, which has digitised more than 7000 songs from the Rabindra Sangeet, to download the music.