Bandish Explained

Bandish, cheez or gat[1] is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music.[2] It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhawaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, violin or harmonium. There are different ways of systematizing the parts of a composition. A bandish provides the literature element in the music, for standard structured singing. In the past many gharanas protected their bandishes from moving out of the family with gross incoherent vocal renditions. In the realm of vocal music, it is often known as cheez.

Etymology

The word bandish is derived from the Hindustani language, and literally means "binding together".[3]

Sections

Sthāyī or Asthāyī: The initial, Rondo phrase or line of a fixed, melodic composition.

Antarā

The second body phrase or line of a fixed, melodic composition.

Sanchāri: The third body phrase or line of a fixed, melodic composition, seen more typically in Dhrupad bandishes.

Aabhog: The fourth and concluding body phrase or line of a fixed, melodic composition, seen more typically in Dhrupad bandishes.

Tempo

There are three variations of Bandish, regarding tempo:

Vilambit Bandish

A slow and steady melodic composition, usually in Largo to Adagio speeds.

Madhyalaya Bandish

A medium tempo melodic composition, usually set in Andante to Allegretto speeds.

Drut Bandish

A fast tempo melodic composition, usually set to Allegretto speed, and onwards.

Few List Bandish Compositions

BandishLanguageRāgLayTālComposerSingerRemarksPublisher / LabelRef.
Giridhar gopal shyamHindiBhimsenVilambit &Madhyalaya BandishRoopakMahesh MahadevBandish on Lord Venkateshwara PM Audios & Entertainments[4]
he mhare rajendramana mohyoHindiDhanashreeVilambit BandishTritalVilayat Hussain KhanVilayat Hussain Khan
Aaj More Man LagoHindiGujri TodiMadhyalaya BandishTeenBhimsen JoshiVenus Worldwide Entertainment Pvt.Ltd.
Begun Gun GaveHindiGujri TodiDrut BandishTeenBhimsen JoshiVenus Worldwide Entertainment Pvt.Ltd.
Ab to Badi Der BhailaHindiBhimpalasiVilambit BandishTeenBhimsen JoshiVenus Worldwide Entertainment Pvt.Ltd.
Brij Mein Dhoom Machaye KanhaHindiBhimpalasiDrut BandishTeenBhimsen JoshiVenus Worldwide Entertainment Pvt.Ltd.
Dijyo Badhai Sab Mil AajHindiBhatiyarVilambit BandishTeenShankar AbhyankarSanjeev Abhyankar & Devaki PanditFountain Music Company
Man Ke Mandir Aayo ReHindiBhimsenDrut BandishTeenMahesh MahadevJayateerth MevundiBandish on Lord VenkateshwaraPM Audios & Entertainments

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bagchee, Sandeep . Nād: Understanding Rāga Music . 1998 . BPI (India) PVT Ltd . 81-86982-07-8 . 328.
  2. Web site: Glossary . 2009-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090801182740/http://www.sadarang.com/glossary1.htm . 2009-08-01 . dead .
  3. Book: Ashok Damodar Ranade. Music Contexts: A Concise Dictionary of Hindustani Music. 20 July 2013. 2006. Bibliophile South Asia. 978-81-85002-63-7. 71–.
  4. Book: Bharatiya Samagana Sabha . Saamagana Indian Classical Music Magazine July 2018 - India's Monthly Classical Music Magazine . 2018-07-09.