Rabindra Sangeet (A Tradition of History in Music)

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About the Book Rabindra Sangeet; pronounced [robindro fongit]), also known as Tagore Songs, are songs from the Indian subcontinent written and composed by the Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature, the first Indian and also the first non-European to receive such recognition. Tagore was a prolific composer with approximately 2,232 songs to his credit. The songs have distinctive characteristics in the music of Bengal, popular in India and Bangladesh.

Dance accompanied by Rabindra Sangeet, at Science City auditorium in Kolkata.

It is characterised by its distinctive rendition while singing which, includes a significant amount of ornamentation like meend, murki, etc. and is filled with expressions of romanticism. The music is mostly based on Hindustani classical music, Carnatic music, Western tunes and the traditional folk music of Bengal and inherently possess within them, a perfect balance, an endearing economy of poetry and musicality [peacock prose] Lyrics and music both hold almost equal importance in Rabindra Sangeet. Tagore created some six new taals, inspired by Carnatic talas, because he felt the traditional taals existing at the time could not do justice and were coming in the way of the seamless narrative of the lyrics. The Rabindrasangeet contains various sections or 'parjay' such as 'prem','prakriti,bhanusingher podaboli',etc. The Bhanushingher Podaboli songs are based on his own life experiences and happenstance.

About the Author Mr. RK Chakravarty has been writing on Rabindra Sangeet for very long time. His articles have appeared in various journals and magazines. He himself is a well acclaimed exponent of Rabindra Sangeet. This is his first published work in form of book. Currently he is based in Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh).

Introduction Rabindranath is most revered as a poet and is called Kaviguru or the master of poetry. But his songs, Rabindrasangit, have given the Bengali race a unique direction not only to a fresh world of music but also provided insight into life through his lyrics. His lyrics often reflect the contents of the Upanishads and hence speak of life as an integral part of nature. The universe and its vastness had always fascinated Rabindranath. Many of his songs are his offerings to the Almighty- the formless.