Assam ASSEB HS Skill Assamese Folk Music and Dance key terms

Assamese folk songs sung during the Bihu festival, especially Bohag Bihu, expressing love, nature, and social themes with distinctive rhythmic patterns.

Devotional songs sung in Namghars, often in call-and-response style, associated with Vaishnavite traditions and sometimes accompanied by khol and taal.

General term for Assamese folk songs, encompassing various regional and functional genres passed down orally through generations.

Wedding songs of Assam, sung during marriage rituals, often humorous or instructional, with regional variations in melody and lyrics.

Songs sung in praise of the mother goddess, often during rituals and festivals, with a distinct devotional character and call-response structure.

A genre of Bihu songs sung by groups of men during Bohag Bihu, often involving competitive repartee and rhythmic handclapping.

The Assamese New Year festival celebrated in mid-April, marked by Bihu songs and dances, especially among young people.

A vibrant folk dance of Assam performed during Bihu, characterized by rapid hip movements, hand gestures, and rhythmic footwork, usually by young women and men.

A classical dance form of Assam that originated in Vaishnavite monasteries (sattras), incorporating folk elements and storytelling.

A traditional dance of the Bodo community of Assam, performed by women in colorful attire, mimicking the movements of butterflies and birds.

A folk dance and song genre of the tea garden communities of Assam, performed by women with rhythmic footwork and hand movements.

A ritual dance performed by women in Assam, often in a trance state, dedicated to the serpent goddess Manasa.

A barrel-shaped drum used in Assamese folk and devotional music, especially in Namghars and Sattriya performances, played with hands.

Cymbals used in Assamese music, made of metal, played in pairs to maintain rhythm and often accompanying khol and other instruments.

A traditional Assamese wind instrument made from buffalo horn, played during Bihu and other festive occasions.

A double-headed drum widely used in Assamese folk music, especially in Bihu and other festive dances, providing a strong rhythmic base.

A jaw harp made of bamboo, played by women in Assam during Bihu, producing a twanging rhythmic sound.

Rhythmic cycle in Assamese music, similar to tala in Indian classical music, governing the rhythmic structure of compositions.

A beat or rhythmic unit in tala, forming the basic pulse of a musical composition.

Tempo or speed in music, referring to the rhythmic pace at which a composition is performed.

Melodic framework in Indian music, though in Assamese folk music, melodic patterns are often regional and less rigidly codified.

A community prayer hall in Assam, central to Vaishnavite practice, where devotional music and dance are performed.

A Vaishnavite monastery in Assam, established by Srimanta Sankardeva, which preserves and teaches Sattriya dance and music.

A 15th-16th century Assamese saint-reformer who founded the Vaishnavite movement in Assam and inspired Sattriya dance and devotional music.

An ethnic community of Assam with its own distinct folk music and dance traditions, such as Bagurumba.

Communities in Assam descended from tea plantation workers, with distinct folk music and dance like Jhumur.

The serpent goddess worshipped in parts of Assam, associated with ritual dances like Deodhani.

India's national academy of performing arts, which documents and supports traditional folk music and dance, including those of Assam.

The systematic recording of folk music and dance performances, including audio, video, and notation, for preservation and study.

The process of storing and preserving digital recordings and documents of folk traditions, making them accessible for research and education.

The traditional teacher-disciple method of transmitting music and dance knowledge orally, still prevalent in Assamese folk traditions.

A practice session where performers prepare for a performance, refining technique, coordination, and interpretation.

The role of leading a group of performers, coordinating their parts, and ensuring cohesive performance in folk music and dance.

The arrangement and performance of folk music and dance on stage, including lighting, costume, and spatial awareness.

Traditional attire worn by performers, often specific to the dance genre, such as the colorful dresses in Bihu dance.

Legal protection for original creative works, relevant to folk music recordings and compositions, though traditional works may have complex ownership.

The means of supporting oneself, an important consideration for folk artists who often rely on performance and teaching.