=Causeway Performing Arts=
GCSE Music AoS 3: Dance Music (Vol. 6)
Bhangra
in conjunction with www.musicdepartment.info
BHANGRA
BACKGROUND
Traditional Bhangra originated as a folk dance in the Punjab region of north India and
Pakistan. Bhangra was created by the Punjabi farmers working on the land. They would
sing songs as they worked to entertain themselves and to pass the time. These songs and
accompanying dances became a part of their harvest celebrations. Gradually Bhangra
spread to other areas of society, becoming a part of weddings, new year parties and other
significant occasions.
As a traditional dance Bhangra is hundreds of years old, but a modern form of Bhangra
has recently developed in the last 40 years and quickly gained popularity. As people from
Asian migrated to other countries such as England, they took their music and dance with
them. Asian culture became especially important to the new communities as it helps them
to maintain their sense of identity. To begin with, Bhangra was used by Asian communities
in cities such as Birmingham and London to celebrate weddings and other special events.
But as traditional Bhangra was fused with western popular music, it quickly spread
throughout the UK. The popular music influences and the use of music technology in
modern Bhangra turned it into a commercial success, and Bhangra became the main style
of music to be heard in England's Asian nightclubs.
The first band to become popular in the UK was ALAAP. This London-based group started
to perform in 1977 at temples and functions of the Asian communities. Their song Bhabiye
Ni Bhabiye was the first ever hit single, helping to take Bhangra into the mainstream arena
in the 1980s. To start with, the music used traditional instruments and melodies, but under
the influence of their producer it became more popular and electronic.
Other famous Bhangra performers include:
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Malkit Singh - labelled ʻthe golden voice of Punjabʼ. He is considered to be the
biggest selling Bhangra artist, and has received an MBE for his contribution to
Bhangra music.
Kuldeep Manak - a traditional Bhangra singer who has moved into the club scene,
taking on a more modern style.
Punjabi MC - a musician born in England who fuses elements of Bhangra with hiphop and rap.
What does the dance look like?
Bhangra was originally a male dance, with strong, energetic steps and actions that
represented the movements of the farmers as they worked on the field. More recently,
women have started to dance Bhangra as well. There are now a number of different
traditional dances that are grouped under the heading of Bhangra.
Although there are solo dancers, most traditional Bhangra dancing is done in groups.
Dancing in a circle is common in Bhangra. Acrobatic stunts are also popular - human
pyramids can even be created in the middle of a dance. In contrast, the style of club dance
used from modern Bhangra music is individual and improvised.
MUSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The most important rhythm in Bhangra music is known as chaal. This is a repeated eightnote pattern, played on the ghol:
The dhol is a double-headed, wooden-barrel drum which is held with a strap around the
playerʼs and neck. The two drum heads have different tensions and thicknesses, so that
one sounds deeper than the other. The word ʻdhaʼ means that both ends of the drummer
played while ʻnaʼ means that only the high pitched end is struck.
Other characteristics of Bhangra music include:
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A time signature of ò, with each crotchet beat divided into three (see the chaal rhythm
above).
Vocal melodies with a limited range, which are ornamented and make use of
microtonal intervals. Bhangra lyrics are sung in Punjabi. It is quite common for the
vocal melody to fall at the end of each phrase.
The use of string instruments and other percussion instruments aside from the dhol.
Bhangra string instruments include the sitar, the tumbi (a plucked string instrument
with only one string) and the sarangi (a bowed string instrument).
Shouts of ʻhoiʼ from a backing chorus.
A fast tempo of around 140 to 180 beats per minute.
An influence of popular music styles including reggae, disco, hip-hop and rap.
Bhangra frequently makes use of electronic instruments (synthesisers and drum
machines, for example) and music technology such as mixing, sampling and
scratching.
A verse-and-chorus structure, with an instrumental introduction.
For an example of modern piece of Bhangra, listen to the popular song Mundian Tu Bach
Ke by Punjabi MC. This song displays most of the characteristics listed above. It is in a
fast ò with a tempo of about q=190. You can hear the chaal rhythm at the start of the piece.
The song begins with an instrumental introduction - a repeated riff played on the tumbi (a
plucked string instrument) - which is then joined by the dhol. The singer then enters with
the same rhythm and a similar melody to the opening riff (played on the tumbi). His melody
(sung in Punjabi) has a narrow range and consists of mostly falling phrases, with some
ornamentation. You can hear the influence of western music when the drums and bass
enter. Towards the end of the piece, Punjabi MC adds in DJ scratching with more complex
rhythms.
Performing ideas
Try to get to grips with the child with them on a goal, another double-header drum or any
parent drums. If you can learn to perform the trial rhythm at a fast but steady tempo it
will make it much easier to you to recognise it in the music that you here.
Composing ideas
There are many ways in which you could approach bhangra composition. First of all,
consider whether you want your piece to send traditional or modern. How much do you
want your music to show the influence of western popular styles? If you have genuine
bhangra instruments to work with you could create an ensemble piece to be played live.
Alternatively, you may wish to work entirely with technology, using software that enables
you to do sequencing, editing, mixing and sampling. However traditional or not you want
to your piece to sound, you should include the char risen in the drum part.
Your bank song could follow it simple verse-and-chorus structure, with an instrumental
introduction at the beginning. Remember as you compose that each crotchet be in
bhangra music is subdivided into three. A couple of starting ideas are given here:
Once you have a melody to go with the child with them, you could fill out the drum part
about other instruments to play chords, riffs or a baseline. You could develop the melody
by adding in a chromatic notes or even micro terminal intervals, is writing for voice or a
string instrument. Remember that ornamentation is very common in bhangra music.
Listening ideas
Listen to and compare as much Bhangra music as you can. There are many CD
compilations available, such as ʻThe rough guide to Bhangra danceʼ (world music
network), ʻBhangra dance hitsʼ (water music records) and ʻBhangra beatsʼ (Naxos). You
can also find many songs on YouTube by searching for Bhangra music or for famous
performers such as Kuldeep Manak, Malkit Signh and Gurdas Maan.
As you listen to the music, think about the following points:
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Rhythm - can you make out the chaal rhythm? Can you hear that each crotchet
beat is subdivided into three?
Melody - does the melody have a narrow range? Are the lyrics in Punjabi? Is the
melody decorated with stylistic ornamentation? Does the melody contain
microtonal intervals?
Structure - does the song have a verse-and-chorus structure, with regular phrase
length?
Instruments - can you work out what instruments they are? Are any of the sounds
used and electronic?
Style - does the music sound like traditional or modern Bhangra? How can you
tell?
Resources
The following videos on YouTube are examples of popular songs by contemporary
Bhangra artists:
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Kuldeep Manak - Poorna (posted by chotalambarder)
Kuldeep Manak - Manak in da club (posted by amansignh91)
Malkit Singh - Tutak tutak tutiyan (posted by sidhu786)
It can be interesting to compare traditional Bhangra songs with their remixed versions.
For example listen to Challa by Gurdas Maan (1986), which was remixed by Punjabi MC
in 1999. Both versions can be found on YouTube:
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Gurdas Maan - Challa (posted by 2pacallypse)
Challa part 2 Punjabi MC Remix (posted by rickyyoman)
Test yourself
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Where did original Bhangra originate?
What did the dance originally represent?
How did modern Bhangra develop?
Give four features of Bhangra music.