This is a vast and complicated subject that has relevance to AQA, EDEXCEL and OCR GCSE 2003 specifications. AQA require candidates to be aware of the impact of several world musics on popular song, including ‘music from the Indian sub-continent’. EDEXCEL require candidates to understand the ‘mutual influences of Western pop music and non-Western traditions which have been absorbed by jazz, folk, rock and classical music eg Bhangra’. Bhangra is a ‘core’ component of the OCR ‘Tradition and Innovation’ area of study.

Bhangra is a fusion of Punjabi folk music with western popular musics (eg Alaap, Sangeeta, Malkit Singh, Safri Boys, Achanak)

Elements from Punjabi folk music:

• Bhangra most popular folk dance from the Punjab (celebrating harvest)
  
• Dance led by dhol (double sided wooden barrel drum)
  
• Complex cross rhythms based around 8 beat rhythmic cycle (kaharva)
  
• Traditional folk tunes
  
• Traditional dance rhythms eg

Bhangra (very fast – double time feel)

Chaal

NB (North Indian tabla notation adapted: na = treble side of drum only; ge = bass side only; dha = bass + treble together)

Fusions of Indian classical music traditions with western styles can be found in:

• 1960’s popular music (eg George Harrison/Beatles)
  
• Asian Underground (eg Talvin Singh - OK)
  
• Indian/Jazz fusions (eg John McLaughlin/Shakti)

Elements from the Indian Classical Tradition

• Instruments: sitar, tabla, tanpura plus characteristic playing techniques
  
• Elements: Rag, Tal, drone
  
• Forms/Sections: Alap, Jor, Gat, Jhalla, Tihais
  
  

Elements from western popular music in British/Asian music

• Use of electric guitar, bass, electric keyboards/synthesisers, saxophone, drum kit etc
  
• Western production techniques and use of music technology – sequencing; sampling; editing; multi-tracking; mixing; effects/digital signal processing; scratching
  
• Styles such as reggae, rap, drum’n’bass, techno, ambient
  

Resources

Broughton, S, Ellingham, M & Trillo, R (1999) The Rough Guide to World Music Vol. 1 London: Rough Guides

Broughton, S & Ellingham, M (2000) The Rough Guide to World Music Vol. 2 London: Rough Guides

Volume 1 has detailed information on British/Asian fusions, specifically Bhangra and the Asian Underground movement (pp 83-90). Volume 2 has articles devoted to the Indian classical tradition (pp 63-69), more general East/West fusions (pp 109-116), plus much more material about music from the Indian sub-continent.

Farrell, G (1994) Music of India Oxford: Heinemann

Farrell, G (1997) Indian Music in the West Oxford: OUP
Contains really useful information, including a detailed analysis of ‘Within you, without you’

The Rough Guide CDs are recommended, specifically the Rough Guide to Bhangra

http://dhol.uv.net/ is a specialist site for Bhangra run by Johnny Dhalsi (former member of Alaap)

Talvin Singh's album OK (Island, 1998) is an Asian Underground fusion of Indian classical and western
popular music styles/music technology production techniques (Mercury Music Prize winner 1999). There is a new album (Ha!) coming out in March 2001

Shakti/John McLaughlin is an example of Indian/Jazz fusions eg Best of Shakti (Moment, US)

Sgt. Pepper (1967) has 'Within You, Without You' - Indian music within western popular styles

Sharman, E (1998) Music Worldwide Cambridge: CUP

See also sheet on Bhajan/Qawwali (as found in the QCA Schemes of Work for KS3)