Bandish, cheez or gat is a fixed, melodic composition in
Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific
raga
A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...
, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a
tabla
A ''tabla'' is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments a ...
or
pakhawaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a
sarangi
The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked three-stringed instrument played in traditional music from South Asia – Punjabi folk music, Rajasthani folk music, Sindhi folk music, Haryanvi folk music, Braj folk music, and Boro folk music (the ...
,
violin
The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...
or
harmonium
The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...
. 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
Hindustani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in North India and Pakistan as the lingua franca of the region. It is also spoken by the Deccani people, Deccani-speaking community in the Deccan plateau. Hindustani is a pluricentric language w ...
, 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.
Selected Bandish Compositions
See also
*
*
References
Indian styles of music
Hindustani music genres
Musical form
Hindustani music terminology
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