Music of Nepal
Music of Nepal refers to the various musical genres played and listened to in Nepal. With more than fifty ethnic groups in Nepal, the country's music is highly diverse. Genres like Tamang Selo, Chyabrung, Dohori, Adhunik Geet, Bhajan, Filmi music, Ghazal, Classical music, songs and Ratna music are widely played and popular, but many other less common genres are yet to be cataloged. Western musical genres like Rock, Metal, Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B also regularly feature on the Nepalese music charts. Most of the country's musical bands are based in the Kathmandu valley. Musical genres from Tibet and India have greatly influenced Nepalese music.[1][2]
Genres[edit]
Tamang music[edit]
The Tamang community is well known for the Damphu, a traditional instrument. Tamang Selo music is accompanied by the Damphu and Tungna. It is said that British people derived the idea of making drum sets from Damphu during their stay in India. Some modern Tamang Selo music also shows influences of western and Indian instruments.
Hira Devi Waiba is hailed as the pioneer of Nepali folk songs. She sang about 300 songs throughout her 40-year musical career.[3] After Hira Devi Waiba died in 2011, her son Satya Waiba and daughter Nanveet Aditya Waiba took upon the task of reviving her songs, re-recorded them with a new sound and released them in Navneet's voice.[4][5] They named the album Ama Lai Shraddhanjali - Tribute to Mother. Navneet is the only artist in the Nepali folk music genre who sings authentic traditional Nepali folk songs without adulteration or modernisation.[6]
Dohori[edit]
Dohori is a genre of Nepali folk music and has roots in the rural courtship traditions. In Nepali, Dohori literally means from both sides or a debate. This debate is in musical rhythm, and involves quick and witty poetry. The two teams taking part in a Dohori usually involve boys and girls in rival teams. The song starts with a question, usually from the boys' side. The girl follows the question with a quick response and the two teams continue the musical conversation.
Dohori songs can last for as long as a week. The length of the Dohori depends on the quick thinking ability and wit of the players.[7]
Adhunik Geet[edit]
Adhunik Geet are popular songs in Nepal and are also known as sugam sangeet. These songs are soft and melodious. One of the most famous singers of this genre was late Narayan Gopal who was also known as a "Swar Samrat," meaning King of 'Voice' in Nepali. He sang hits like "Euta Manchhe Ko", and "Yeti Dherai Maya Dii". Aruna Lama was one of the well-known c.[8] She is popularly known as the "Nightingale of the Hills". She has sung hundreds of Nepali songs.[9] While Kiran Kharel, Ratnashamser Thapa, Subash Chandra Dhungel, Rajendra Thapa, Dinesh Adhikari are remarkable names from older generation. In contemporary songwriting, Ramesh Dahal, Prakash Saput, Sheetal Kadambini, Rakhi Gauchan are some of the impactful lyricist and songwriters. Ramesh Dahal is known to write for social change, peace and inclusion.[10]
Awards[edit]
With the growth and development of the Nepali music industry, different award ceremonies are held in different parts of the country, some focusing local talents. Awards of national level are held each year by some media houses, namely Hits FM,[29] Image FM,[30] Radio Kantipur Music Awards.,[31] Music Khabar Music Award.[32]
Radio Nepal, from 1965, has been organizing a 'Nationwide Modern Song Competition', the government own historical award each year that awards the best lyrics, music, and singing on a competition basis.[33]
Lyricists' Association of Nepal organizes the National Creator Honor Award including cash, Song of the Year Award including cash, and the Award including cash for the lyricist who writes in the mother language each year.[34]
Atul Memorial Music Gurukul,[35] was established in 2003 in memory of Nepali Tabla Maestro Atul Gautam. Since then the organization has been awarding Nepali classical maestros once a year on the occasion of Atul Jayanti.