RAJASTHAN ROOTS (Jaipur)
Folk
Folk
Rajasthan Roots is a collective of folk artists creating contemporary folk music and dance
of Rajasthan.
We have a state of the art recording facility and rehearsal space – Morchang Studio’s - which is dedicated to international level production and choreography. Recordings may be viewed at: www.youtube.com/morchangstudios
International performances showcase the different folk art styles of Rajasthan,
featuring 8 – 20 artists presenting:
Traditional folk instruments : such as the Morchang (jews harp), Bhapang (one-string fiddle), Khurtal (castanets), Algoza (Double flute), Khamaicha (bowed string instrument), Nagara (Kettle Drums), Bamboo
Flute.
Captivating vocal styles : ranging from the mystic sufi traditions, bhajans (devotional songs) as well as popular folk songs of Rajasthan.
Dance forms : such as the Chari Dance (with fire pots), Kalbelia – Snake charmers dance, as well as the terah taali (dance with thirteen cymbals)
Puppet Shows: narrations of age old fables depicting wars and valour of the Rajput Kings, the famous heer-ranjha love stories, or the miracles and stories of mystics such as Kabir and Soordas. It is and exciting combination of puppets, stories and music to appeal to audiences of all age groups.
Interactive cross-cultural collaborations and interactions: with educational sessions on the folk arts of Rajasthan, or workshops with school children and enthusiasts - teaching them how to play folk instruments & dance. Collaborations with local artists often resulting in concerts or recording projects.
The Instruments:
Algoza is a double flute played by the Meghwal and Langa communities in the Jaisalmer, Barmer region of Rajasthan. Tagaram Bheel is one of the masters of Algoza – a very difficult instrument which is played with the cyclic breathing
technique.
Bhapang is a one string fiddle originally from the Mewati community in the Alwar region. This is both a melodic and rhythmic instrument, and is played as accompaniment to the song and poetry
Khamaicha is a rare bow-string instrument of the Manganiyar community in the Barmer – Jaisalmer region of Rajasthan. The musician often plays the instrument while singing songs to their patrons.
Khurtals are wooden castanets – four in number, which are held in pairs in both hands and played as percussion accompaniment to the folk songs of Rajasthan. They have many variations of beats and fills which
add colour to the songs.
Morchang is a folk instrument played in the western desert region of Rajasthan by communities such as the Manganiyars, Langas and Meghwals made out of wrought iron, and placed between the teeth, it creates a twanging sound, which is rhythmic in nature.
Nagara drum, consists of a male and female pair of kettle drums, traditionally played in the temples of India, It is auspicious to have them start off functions or to be played in marriages and other celebratory
functions
Matka’s (claypot) playing style demonstrates the true funk of Rajasthan music. With the main bass of the sound derived from blowing into the matka, and treble from the rings on his fingers, the artist adds to the audio-visual spectacle by tossing the matka into the air and swaying side to side to the music.
The Dances:
Chari dance is from the Gujjar community from the Kishangarh Region of Rajasthan. The ladies carry brass pots on their head, lit with fire. This is an auspicious dance, usually done as a welcome dance to ward off evil spirits.
Terah Taali is a dance from the Kamad community of Rajasthan, who worship baba ramdev – a local deity. In this dance 13 cymbals are attached to various parts of the legs and struck in coordination and rhythmically with cymbals tied to the hands.
Kalbelia dance is performed by the women of Kalbelia community - a community of snake charmers whose age-old occupation was catching snakes and trading their venom. Hence the dance movements and the costumes bear resemblance to that of the serpents.
of Rajasthan.
We have a state of the art recording facility and rehearsal space – Morchang Studio’s - which is dedicated to international level production and choreography. Recordings may be viewed at: www.youtube.com/morchangstudios
International performances showcase the different folk art styles of Rajasthan,
featuring 8 – 20 artists presenting:
Traditional folk instruments : such as the Morchang (jews harp), Bhapang (one-string fiddle), Khurtal (castanets), Algoza (Double flute), Khamaicha (bowed string instrument), Nagara (Kettle Drums), Bamboo
Flute.
Captivating vocal styles : ranging from the mystic sufi traditions, bhajans (devotional songs) as well as popular folk songs of Rajasthan.
Dance forms : such as the Chari Dance (with fire pots), Kalbelia – Snake charmers dance, as well as the terah taali (dance with thirteen cymbals)
Puppet Shows: narrations of age old fables depicting wars and valour of the Rajput Kings, the famous heer-ranjha love stories, or the miracles and stories of mystics such as Kabir and Soordas. It is and exciting combination of puppets, stories and music to appeal to audiences of all age groups.
Interactive cross-cultural collaborations and interactions: with educational sessions on the folk arts of Rajasthan, or workshops with school children and enthusiasts - teaching them how to play folk instruments & dance. Collaborations with local artists often resulting in concerts or recording projects.
The Instruments:
Algoza is a double flute played by the Meghwal and Langa communities in the Jaisalmer, Barmer region of Rajasthan. Tagaram Bheel is one of the masters of Algoza – a very difficult instrument which is played with the cyclic breathing
technique.
Bhapang is a one string fiddle originally from the Mewati community in the Alwar region. This is both a melodic and rhythmic instrument, and is played as accompaniment to the song and poetry
Khamaicha is a rare bow-string instrument of the Manganiyar community in the Barmer – Jaisalmer region of Rajasthan. The musician often plays the instrument while singing songs to their patrons.
Khurtals are wooden castanets – four in number, which are held in pairs in both hands and played as percussion accompaniment to the folk songs of Rajasthan. They have many variations of beats and fills which
add colour to the songs.
Morchang is a folk instrument played in the western desert region of Rajasthan by communities such as the Manganiyars, Langas and Meghwals made out of wrought iron, and placed between the teeth, it creates a twanging sound, which is rhythmic in nature.
Nagara drum, consists of a male and female pair of kettle drums, traditionally played in the temples of India, It is auspicious to have them start off functions or to be played in marriages and other celebratory
functions
Matka’s (claypot) playing style demonstrates the true funk of Rajasthan music. With the main bass of the sound derived from blowing into the matka, and treble from the rings on his fingers, the artist adds to the audio-visual spectacle by tossing the matka into the air and swaying side to side to the music.
The Dances:
Chari dance is from the Gujjar community from the Kishangarh Region of Rajasthan. The ladies carry brass pots on their head, lit with fire. This is an auspicious dance, usually done as a welcome dance to ward off evil spirits.
Terah Taali is a dance from the Kamad community of Rajasthan, who worship baba ramdev – a local deity. In this dance 13 cymbals are attached to various parts of the legs and struck in coordination and rhythmically with cymbals tied to the hands.
Kalbelia dance is performed by the women of Kalbelia community - a community of snake charmers whose age-old occupation was catching snakes and trading their venom. Hence the dance movements and the costumes bear resemblance to that of the serpents.
