Oriya Music
Oriya music: Musical hub of the South Asia
Orissa is a state of India which is which is famous as one of the musical
centres of South Asia. Odissi folk music is one such musical form of Orissa
which is codified into the classical style. This is also related to the various
classical styles of Indian classical music. Although it is claimed as a separate
fom of music it resembles greatly and thus a part of the great Hindustani music.
Odissi is again a separate form of classical music similar to the hindustani and
the carnatic form of the indian classical music. At the same time it has all the
potential as well as the required ingredients of the Indian classical form. Even
though it has been neglected since the time of the Britishers because of the
sincere efforts of some of the musicians it has been preserved in its original
as well as the pristine form. The credit of this goes to the very adeptmusicians
of the Jaga Akhadas of the Puri district, who could maintain and develop the
music. This after independence took a different turn, however.
Orissa is a land of vast culture just like India. Just like the other aspects of
its culture music of the sacred land Orissa is also very vibrant showing all the
beautiful colors of the music that encompasses the various forms. The Oriya
music is one such form of music which consists of various forms and all these
forms can be classified brodly into the following five forms viz: 1.Folk music
2.Light music 3.Tribal music 4.Light Classical music and 5.Classical music.
1.Folk music: folk songs form a major form of the Oriya music and this is the
reason why Orissa is called asa the ‘treasure house’ of music. This is sung on
the special occasions of festivals, for the enjoyment. Oriya music in terms of
the folk music is one such music which speaks the language of the natives and
this also speaks volumes about their mental status, their local problems, and
expresses the mores and the ethos of the communities of the region. Ghumura
Geeta, Ghoda Nacha and Danda Nacha Geeta, Gopal Ugala and Osa-Parva-Geeta, Geeta,
Balipuja Geeta, Kela Keluni Geeta, Dalkhai Geeta, Kendra Geeta, Jaiphula Geeta,
etc. are some of the examples of the folk form of the Oriya music.
2.Light music: Oriya songs that are based on the ragassuch as Rangila Chaupadi,
Bhajans, Janan etc. comes under the category of the light classical music. This
forma a very important part in the overall Oriya music .
3.Tribal music: this music is as the name suggests is a form of music which is
related to the tribes residing in the forest and the jungle areas and in the
coastal areas as well. Maximumconcentration of the tribes is found here and thus
Oriya music is very rich in the tribal music.
4. Classical music: Divya Manusi Prabandha, Chautisa, Sariman, Vyanjani,
Chaturang, Champu, Sri Geetagovinda, Chaupadi and Anirjukta Pravadha etc. comes
under the category of the traditional music of the state of Orissa. This forms a
very important part of the Oriya music.
thus all in all this can be said about the Oriya music that it is highly rich
form of the music which consists of all the essential as well as the influential
Aspects which help in qualifying for a good form of music and which makes it the
music of the masses.