Bhangra – 2 different styles Old/ Traditional and Modern (UK) (AoS 3 – Dance Music)

Old/ traditional = Folk music of Punjab (N. India and Pakistan) Played at harvest time. What is the language NOT Indian, it is Punjabi. Dhol (double headed barrel- drum) = key instrument (lower and higher ends)

Chaal = rhythm “Dha na na na na Dha Dha Na” in swung rhythm like the blues. Every Bhangra (almost every) will have the Chaal Rhythm

How to play a Chaal Rhythm – Listen out for the rhythm when it gets fast enough. Happens in both old (traditional) and new Bhangra (Modern for UK). Dha = large end and low Na = small end and high These drums strokes are known as “BOLS” Tunes = highly repetitive and often based around interval of minor 3rd.

Some traditional Bhangra – traditional – great Chaal Dhol drum feature about 1 minute! Most of the music is just voice and Dhol drum. How can you tell it’s not modern? No modern Western pop instruments or sampling. Obviously no computer techniques used here.

A Bhangra cartoon to teach the dance – cartoon teaching dance

Listen to a good Chaal Rhythm here – with good Chaal drum rhythm. It ends a bit more modern.

Different styles of TRADITIONAL Bhangra

Jhumar or Joomar – Flowing slow dance around the drummer in a slow circle. A quiet(?) chorus is sung round the drum rhythm

Jhumar example – singing takes a while to start. Is it singing or more of a chant? What’s the language? It’s obviously celebratory and people are dancing it LIVE. Another Jhumar example

Giddha – Tells stories of actual events. ONLY WOMEN DANCE. Dancers use hand claps to control the beat. Giddha example – while the music is a backing track – look at the dancer’s hand claps. Another Giddah example – another example.

So how do you tell? Hand claps! Can’t hear them? How about the WOMEN voices, not men.

Daankara or Dankara – Men dance in pairs and beat rhythm using coloured sticks. This dance often contains stunts link human pyramids or other wild things. Canada Day: Boys Punjabi Dance – but no stunts

New/ Modern in UK = traditional mixed with western club dance = Indian “pop” music. Developed in UK 1970s and 1980 – remains popular today and even now the style is evolving. Fused Chaal with Disco/ Drum’n’Bass/ Rap/ Reggae. Made more popular with main stream audiences. Use of western instruments (Electric Guitar/ Synthesiser) as well as modern techniques such as sampling or drum tracks/ bass lines/ words/ other sounds (nature or traditional chants etc) Scratching may also be used. NO DHOL – uses drum machine, but may sound quite “Dhol- like” Modern Bhangra example – modern example with samples of other Western pop songs – Sitar also present. Chaal Rhythm still there. Male. Harmonies. Western beat feel. PUNJABI language.

Punjabi MC. THE definitive modern Bhangra example – typical Punjabi MC example. Note Dhol rhythm and Sitar.

Bhangra modern example – Punjabi MC again.

Try to describe what you hear – What instruments.

Note – if language is not English – it is PUNJABI, not Indian or Pakistani.

Extra useful website on Bhangra – quite a few clips to look at here.

For everything you hear think. Is it modern or traditional? What tells you this. Once you know that, describe what you hear – male/ female – Chaal Rhythm on what instrument Other instruments. When and where would it be performed.

Why did modern UK Bhangra develop?

2 (or more) styles coming together is called a FUSION.