Jugalbandi: A Type Of Concert Where Two Different Styles Of Music Perform Together

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Jugalbandi when literally translated, means "tied or entwined together." To qualify as an audience, one should know at least a smattering of both styles of music, or instruments to be able to enjoy the recital. It is a stage which is equally dominated between two stalwarts of an entirely unfamiliar and different styles making a beautiful orchestrated blend of music that is unique and mellifluous.

Jugalbandi previously, was performed between two eminent vocal or instrumental musicians who showed their expertise separately in their craft initially and then brought out the best of both worlds by singing or playing what is common to those two schools. Off late, it has developed a different angle where different forms of music dance and other art forms performing an impromptu fusion that contributes a rich and rewarding musical experience!

Jugalbandi Concert: Structure

The Jugalbandi between Carnatic and Hindustani musicians be it vocals or instrumentals is a divine pleasure for ears. Two musicians perform their own stuff on the stage separately one after the other,. The two of them sing similar ragas in their own manner and style one after the other every time coming back to the common line of the song. They sing together as well at the end, and the result feels like a torrential downpour of heavenly music that is practiced and perfected for your ears.

Usually, the Jugalbandi between a vocalist and instrumentalist do not work very well down South India. Jugalbandi is not a duet which is sung separately by two musicians, ending up singing the song together. What the Hyderabad Brothers or the Dagar Brothers perform are conventional duets and not jugalbandi.

The most celebrated and famous jugalbandi that resulted in the invention of sitar by Amir Khusro was the one performed between Gopal Nayak and Amir Khusro himself. It was a jugal bandi between Carnatic and Hindustani music. At the end, the veena impressed Amir Khusro so much that he invented sitar for the sake of North Indian Hindustani music.

In the North India, there is one more kind of Jugalbandi that is called Jasrangi where in a male and female singer sing, the male singer singing from the Pancham or Pa of the female singers octave and the fmelae singing from the madhyam Ma of the male singer. Probably this if experimented in Carnatic classical music, may not sound well synchronized when sung together. So probably it was not picked as a theme for concert by South Indians.

The primary aim of a music concert is to bring out the essence of the school of music in which the lead is performing. But this jugalbandi does not go to the depths of classical music as they are two very different systems that do not meet in their intentions or purpose. So it is a peripheral display of melodies from each system juxtaposed in a Jugalbandi. A jugalbandi has never equalled a regular concert in terms of technical richness and purity of music. So the Jugalbandis are not your traditional concerts which offer ample scope for the trained listener to savour the vast repertoire of the music system that is ancient and pure.

Why Should It Be Popularised?

Ordinary listeners who are not that exposed to music may add to their knowledge of certain aspects of both types of music To enjoy the Jugalbandi as it is, one should have a fair amount of knowledge of both systems to identify the differences and similarities and enjoy it as a wholesome musical experience. This is also the reason why the Connoisseur is attracted to the musical duet. One more reason why Jugalbandis should be encouraged is to popularize both systems and introduce them to the young crowd inspiring them to learn the basics of music.

some experimentation can be done even in other forms of art as well, for example, jugalbandis between painters and musicians, yakshagana with a carnatic Vocal Background, bringing together the technicalities of carnatic violin and hindustani violin in a jugalbandi.