Nepali classical music owes its origin to Rig Veda. Later the metrical chanting of its hymns found its expression in the songs of Sama Veda. Since then classical music has associated itself with every sphere of Nepalese classical life. For nearly 3,000 years, this tradition has been handed down from generation to generation.
The classical structure of a melody is known as Raga, and there are hundreds of Ragas either played on musical instruments or sung according to seasons and time. The 24 hour period is divided into 8 segments of 3 hours each and each Raga has to stick to a particular time frame in order to produce a desired effect. At times, some branches of these ragas composed of songs are intertwined with dances.
Small group of itinerant minstrels namely Damais and Gaines have become an integral part of the Nepali folk culture. Through the ages the Gaines have been visiting door to door singing accompanied by the Sarangee, a local violin, their only means of survival. The Damais do the same thing with Sahanai (a recorder), (although they have another source of income from tailoring). The Damais also play Panchai Baja (Sahanai, Narsinga (horn), Damaha (drum), Dholaki (a recorder) and Tyamko (a small drum)) which they play in a group during weddings which is a feature of village life. Folk music in Nepal trives throughout the country embracing a wide range of ethnic diversities. Every community dances to the beat of the drum and melody of the flute on important occasions.
Both spatial and temporal in nature dance derives its liveliness from music which is merely temporal. In Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is the Natraj, the supreme king of dancing, and when he danced his "Tandab Nritya", the whole planet earth was violently shaken. Since then classical dance has been based mainly on religion and myth. Nepal has had a tradition in which even epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana have been subjected to interpretation in dance.
Elaborate classical grammer which was laid down in "Natya Shastra" written in the 2nd century B.C. in India, gives much emphasis to the movement of the eyes and the gestures of the hadns to which Nepali dance also adheres.
The Newars of the Kathmandu Valley are the main exponenets of classical dancing, with masked dances with a Tantric background, and in particular the Lakhe dance, and in Bhaktapur the colourful Mahakali masked dances are performed during the Indra Jatra festival each year.
As well, among the monasteries of Bouddhanath Tibetan masked dancing by monks can be seen at certain times of the year during celebrations and anniversaries, and in western Nepal Magars perform Sorathi, and in the Terai the stick dance is usually seen. |
