A STUDY ON THE CONTEMPORARY TONES IN THE FOLK TRADITION OF NORTHERN REGION

Abstract

Music has always been a significant aspect of one’s life that acts as a vital force of entertainment. With the progression of time, it has been seen that musical traditions have witnessed a significant alteration due to the influences that the genre has derived from the various cultural traditions of the people who have inhabited the landscape of West Bengal. This study has explored the folk tradition of the North region of West Bengal, which is inhabited by diverse communities, belonging to the mountains. In the context of folk songs, it is believed that this is the musical representation of the collective voice of people. The folk tradition is not a mere medium through which the masses can be entertained, but it is also a powerful tool that reflects the various socio-political and economic alterations that have taken place in the society, over the past centuries. India is a land that has been inhabited by diverse ethno-cultural communities that have significantly contributed to the formation of this distinctive genre.The concept of fusion songs is not an old phenomenon. Even though classical or folk songs have a significant place in the field of music, however, the blend of the two has leapt in modern times. Due to the rise of technology in modern times, fusion songs have taken a significant place at the core of the listeners. Relating to this, a book authored by Ahmed (2015), has deplored the fact that at present with the evolution of various forms of technology, the voices of the unheard us heard with music more interest. This interest was lacking a few times back. Thus, it can be stated that in the world of modernization and globalization, the adaptability and the collaborative nature of fusion artists have given a platform to the folk communities. In this one of the most popular folk fusions is “LalpahariDeshe.”