Once,
Emperor Akbar had asked Tansen to sing in Raga Deepak. That particular raga was
reputed to ignite fire, and as Tansen sang on, he grew so heated that he seemed
on fire. It was then that his daughter played Raga Malhar which cooled him
down. Raga Malhar is believed to have the power to cause rainfall when played
properly, which is why it is the music of the rainy season.
In fact,
not just monsoon, but in Eastern Classical Music, every season has its own
specified music. The Malashree tune that we have come to identify closely with
Dashain is actually not just the music of Dashain but of the entire early
winter season. This Malashree is different from the classical Malashree raga,
since it falls under traditional Newar music which has its own seasonal music
distinct from the Eastern Classical system.
Further, Prabhuraj
Dhakal, classical singer and vocal teacher, informs that in Eastern Classical
Music, there is also specific music for specific times of the day. “The 24
hours of a day are divided into eight categories called prahar,” says Dhakal.
“For each of these prahars, there are specified ragas.”
Logically,
it may seem obvious that each of these tunes corresponds to the mood of the
particular time. “I am sure the morning music is energetic, the daytime music
loud, and the evening music calm and soothing,” guesses Surma Shrestha,
operations assistant at IOM, who does not listen to classical music normally. Her
conjecture perhaps reflects how people without education in music perceive this
system of classification.
But Dhakal states
that such associations are purely arbitrary. In fact, any raga can be played on
any instrument and at any tempo. Hence the same raga can seem energetic or
soothing, depending on how it is played.
Dr.
Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi, Fulbright Scholar who did his PhD in the history of
Nepali music, concurs with this view, citing an anecdote of Emperor Akbar.
Akbar once asked musician Vilas Khan to sing Raga Bhairavi at the beginning of
a program. Raga Bhairavi was traditionally played at the conclusion of a
program, and this put Vilas Khan into a dilemma since other musicians waited to
play after him. Ultimately, he played the requested raga in the Todi style,
which is a morning style, liberating the raga from its traditional space at the
conclusion. Later, his style of playing the raga became known as Vilaskhaani
Todi.
In fact, it
is believed that the reason tunes are assigned to times are because each of
these tunes captures the underlying essence of that particular time, and not
just the apparent mood. For example is the Malhar raga believed to cause
rainfall. “Each note creates a certain ras or ethos, and this has been amply
documented,” says Regmi. He cites how music can raise goose pimples or give
energy, phenomena which have been experienced by most listeners of music. “Certain
notes are more prominent in each raga. The raga which corresponds to the ethos
of a time is played during that particular time.”
Music works
at the subconscious level, where it subtly influences and even alters the state
of mind. The power of music to influence the mind and body has been abundantly
recorded in history. Regmi, who has been working in the field of music for
peace, believes music can soothe agitated minds and contribute to reducing
crimes. “Music comes from nature and so do we,” says Regmi. “We are made of the
same elements, no wonder we are influenced by music.” Dhakal also agrees to the
therapeutic powers of music, stating that books tell us to listen to specific
music for specific illnesses.
Science may
be on the way to uncovering these mysteries of how music works at the
subconscious level. For example, in an article in September 2011 issue of
Reader’s Digest India, Alix Kirsta brings to light a lady who had compiled a
list of classical music that put her grandchild to sleep. Contrary to
expectations, it was not calm music that lulled the child, but upbeat works
like Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Her compilation has since gained popularity after
being found effective by other listeners.
Linking
this finding with scientific research, Alix informs that the music that sends
you to sleep is the one that most closely matches the state of your mind when
it is in REM sleep: state of deep sleep when your mind is very active. Hence,
the effect of music on one’s mind may not always be obvious. It is tempting to
believe that our ancestors had delved deep into the unconscious to find music
that is best suited for particular times. Only further research can tell us if
this is true, since the development of Eastern Classical Music has been organic
and not always linear, and it is not possible to determine when, how, or by
whom this system was begun.
For
laypersons, the association between time and music may seem arbitrary, but for
connoisseurs of classical music, it is almost set in stone. They are
discomfited when they hear wrong music at the wrong time of the day. Back in
the days when Dhakal performed classical music for Radio Nepal, he would go to its
premises in the morning to play the morning music, and in the evening for the
evening music. “There was no such thing as playing the specified music at any
other time,” he remembers.
But with
time, the associations are losing their ties, and now it is normal to hear any
music played at any time of the day, even within classical music circles. “We
live in advanced technological times,” says Regmi. “And it is possible to simulate
night time in the day, and vice versa, so as to create an appropriate
environment for the music.” But still, most classical musicians, including
Regmi, try to maintain at least the distinction between daytime and nighttime
music, though subcategories may be merged.
Apart from
Arabic music, which has specific music for different times of the day, time theory
for music is almost exclusive to South Asia. Regmi informs that in Chinese
music, there have been mentions of the music from zither making flowers bloom
in springtime, but few mentions of music for other times. Western Classical Music
has some music for different times of the year, but not particularly for times
of the day. But in Nepal, apart from Eastern Classical Music (common across
South Asia), local music systems like Newar music also have distinct
time-specific music. These various music systems are our unique treasures that we
would be wise to preserve.
No comments:
Post a Comment