Preserving Folk music traditions

[Analogous]

An important aspect of preserving cultural heritage of any language or region that would otherwise disappear with the passing of folk musicians.

One man’s lifelong quest to collect, preserve and promote the folk songs of Uttar Pradesh

Radhavallabh Chaturvedi’s life was marked by so many hardships that it is difficult to imagine how he wrested so much joy out of his music.

scroll.in

 

[Analogous]

Anyone know streaming sources of well recorded Indian Folk music?
Spotify has some playlists like this:

The modern interpretation seems to lose the rustic and earthy character of traditional folk music somehow…

 

[muralimmreddy]

Anyone know streaming sources of well recorded Indian Folk music?
Spotify has some playlists like this:

The modern interpretation seems to lose the rustic and earthy character of traditional folk music somehow…

Folk music of india is incredibly rich and vast. Thankfully there is great music that can be explored in streaming services. But need little more exercise in searching for them. Understanding socio, economic, geographical background of certain folk music and musicians is enriching equally. Sharing some of personal likings:

- Rajasthani folk music. You could search for langas and manganiars
- Baul folk music from West Bengal, you will find plenty of albums
- himalayan states has rich folk music, you could search for himalayan folk

 

[Bhaskar Jyoti Talapatra]

Undoubtedly folk songs in our country are our treasures. I like folk songs and I have some on vinyl ,my preferred media. However a bengali folk band Dohar has some well recorded albums on CDs . Their songs are also available online. Another album that attracts me is project Maya. The people of this band cater to shyamasangeet ( devotional songs ) blending it with folk tradition. Though i always like the original songs sung by the maestros like pannalal Bhattacharya, Dhananjay , Mrinal kanti Ghosh , i think project Maya deserves serious listening for atleast once.
Regards

 

[Analogous]

Undoubtedly folk songs in our country are our treasures. I like folk songs and I have some on vinyl ,my preferred media. However a bengali folk band Dohar has some well recorded albums on CDs . Their songs are also available online. Another album that attracts me is project Maya. The people of this band cater to shyamasangeet ( devotional songs ) blending it with folk tradition. Though i always like the original songs sung by the maestros like pannalal Bhattacharya, Dhananjay , Mrinal kanti Ghosh , i think project Maya deserves serious listening for atleast once.
Regards

What is Project Maya?

 

[Bhaskar Jyoti Talapatra]

What is Project Maya?

Project Maya is a bengali folk band which tries to redefine Bengal 's own shyamasangeet ( devotional songs describing and narrating goddess Kali ) using musical instruments which are mainly used in folk songs. You may search this band on youtube and listen to their songs.
Regards

 

[Analogous]

Project Maya is a bengali folk band which tries to redefine Bengal 's own shyamasangeet ( devotional songs describing and narrating goddess Kali ) using musical instruments which are mainly used in folk songs. You may search this band on youtube and listen to their songs.
Regards

Thanks. There are many good interpretations of folk music by artists using new instruments and arrangements.
Are there any good recordings of folk songs sung and performed by traditional folk musicians?

 

[Analogous]

I discovered this after a quick google

Folk Music Of India : Various : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Tracklist: 1. Folk Song From Haryana 2. Folk Song From West Bengal 3. Tamil Folk Song 4. Naga Swaram (A Snake Charmer's Melody) 5. Religious Song From...

archive.org

And

Voices Of India - Folk Music - Google Arts & Culture

“Early Recordings of Folk Music”

artsandculture.google.com

And

ARCHIVE OF INDIAN MUSIC (AIM)

archiveofindianmusic.org

And

N. Indian Traditional - Free Music Archive

Check out all the latest tracks added to Free Music Archive in genre N. Indian Traditional

freemusicarchive.org

A calendar of live folk music events

ARCHIVE OF INDIAN MUSIC (AIM)

archiveofindianmusic.org

 

[sivasarjun]

The modern interpretation seems to lose the rustic and earthy character of traditional folk music somehow…

That is so true.
Unfortunately this problem (modern interpretations losing the soul) is manifest in the realm of Hindustani classical too. Modes of tutelage have changed and the patronage also have undergone a massive shift. This is inevitablein these times but the new found aesthetics is not something to be hopeful about .

 

[Analogous]

That is so true.
Unfortunately this problem (modern interpretations losing the soul) is manifest in the realm of Hindustani classical too. Modes of tutelage have changed and the patronage also have undergone a massive shift. This is inevitablein these times but the new found aesthetics is not something to be hopeful about .

Inevitable and also progressive even if it occasionally is disappointing. But preserving the older forms by folk artists as good recordings for posterity and available for audiences who are interested is vital too. 50 or 500 years from now…..
I am sure there is a treasure trove of recordings with All India Radio.

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Anyone know streaming sources of well recorded Indian Folk music?
Spotify has some playlists like this:

The modern interpretation seems to lose the rustic and earthy character of traditional folk music somehow…

YouTube and archive.org (look for recordings by ICCR, CCRT etc).

What we get mostly on popular platforms is Rajasthani folk, a lot of it in fusion form. DeKulture.in has some very good original (field) recordings of folk from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab primarily. You can buy their CDs from the online store. Explore Pakistani platforms for Punjabi folk - it’s still flourishing there in original form.

As for other states, there is a real paucity of recorded folk music. There’s some you’d find or Baul music from Bengal and some drums from the South. But given the vastness, diversity, and richness of folk music from across the length and breadth of the country, there’s very little available on popular streaming platforms (which restrict themselves to albums from labels). It is on YouTube, with the user-uploaded content that you’d get to sample a better variety of folk in its earthy form. You’d have to put an effort in searching initially after which YT algorithms will keep introducing you to newer artists and events.