Bangladesh

Bauls

The Bauls are a group of mystic minstrels from Bengal. Bauls constitute both a religious sect and a musical tradition. Bauls are a very heterogeneous group, with many sects, but their membership mainly consists of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims. They can often be identified by their distinctive clothes and musical instruments. Not much is known of their origin. Baul music had a great influence on Rabindranath Tagore's poetry and on his music (Rabindra Sangeet).

Though Bauls comprise only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence on the culture of Bengal is considerable. In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.

Qawwali

Qawwali (Nastaʿlīq: قوّالی; Gurmukhī: ਕੱ਼ਵਾਲੀ; Devanāgarī: क़व्वाली) is a form of Sufi devotional music popular in South Asia, particularly in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan, Hyderabad, Delhi, and other parts of northern India. It is a musical tradition that stretches back more than 700 years.

Originally performed mainly at Sufi shrines or dargahs throughout South Asia, it has now gained mainstream popularity. Qawwali music received international exposure through the work of the late Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, largely due to several releases on the Real World label, followed by live appearances at WOMAD festivals. Other famous Qawwali singers include Pakistan's Sabri Brothers, Bahauddin Qutbuddin and Aziz Mian.

Bangladesh Folk

Bengali Folk

Fusion music

Fusion music that combines two or more styles. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, dynamics, style and tempo. 'Fusion' used alone often refers to jazz fusion, especially with world music.

Fusion music as a genre has broadened the definitions of jazz, rock, and pop music.

Dilruba

Dilruba

The dilruba is a string instrument found in the north of India, where it is used in religious music and light classical songs in the urban areas. (The esraj or israj is found throughout the north, central and east regions of India.) It is a young instrument by Indian terms, being only about 200 years old.  

Instrument Type: 
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Music Genre: 
Hindustani music
Instrument: 
Sarangi

Yousuf Ali Khan

Music Genre: 
Bengali Folk
Music Genre: 
Fusion music
Instrument: 
Tabla

Harmonium

Harmonium

Although the harmonium was invented in France in the 1840s by Alexandre Debain, it was brought into India by missionaries and thereafter gained enormous popularity in South Asia as an instrument used to accompany vocal music. It is a keyboard instrument and has become very popular in recent years. Used to accompany vocal music, its sound is produced by pumping air through a bellow with one hand whilst the other hand plays the keys.

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Carnatic music
Music Genre: 
Hindustani music

Ananda Utsav Festival

Fri 1st Apr 2011 - Sun 3rd Apr 2011
Venue: 

Alexandra Palace

London
Box Office Tel: 
020 3004 8922

We're proud to be associated with Anandabazar Patrika in its celebration of Nobel Prizewinner Rabindranath Tagore at London Ananda Utsav 2011, as the Bengali festival arrives once again in the UK.
Featuring performances by Shaan, Hariharan, Ajoy Chakrabarty and Kavita Krishnamurthy.
 

Ananda Utsav Festival
You can buy tickets from: 
The Festival Website from £25
Telephone 020 3004 8922

Alamin Bhuyia

Instrument: 
Bansuri
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