Bandish, cheez or gat is a fixed, melodic composition in
Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific
raga
A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as ...
, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a
tabla
A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల ...
or
pakhawaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a
sarangi,
violin
The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...
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
Hindi language
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...
, and literally means "binding together".
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.
List Bandish Compositions
See also
*
*
References
Indian styles of music
Hindustani music genres
Musical form
Hindustani music terminology
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