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Music of Bangladesh
Hindustani and Carnatic classical raga, Qawwali, Baul mystics of Bengal, Bhangra, Sri Lankan baila, Nepali folk and the sitar, tabla and sarod.
Sung and searched in Bengali. The YouTube button above can run your search in that language.
Roots and traditions
Classical music
Bangladeshi classical music is based on modes called ragas. As early as the Charyagiti (9th century), ragas have been used in Bengali music. Jaydev's Gitagovindam, Padavali Kirtan, Mangal Giti, Shyamasangit, Tappa, Brahma Sangeet, and Tagore songs have all drawn inspiration from ragas. The use of North Indian ragas in Bengali songs began in the 18th century. This trend gained momentum during the 19th and 20th centuries. Pioneers included Ramnidhi Gupta, Kali Mirza, Raghunath Roy, and Ramshanker Bhattacharya, the founder of the Bishnupur Gharana. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow played an important role in this movement. After being dethroned by the British Empire in 1856 and exiled to Metiabruz, Kolkata, he patronized music—especially dhrupad, tappa, thumri, and kheyal—during his 30-year exile, leaving a lasting impact on Bangladeshi music. Most traditional Bengali music is based on various interpretations of Hindustani classical music. Rabindranath Tagore deeply appreciated North Indian ragas and successfully incorporated them into his songs.
Popular music
Pop music
Western-style popular music began to strongly influence Bangladeshi music in the early 1970s. Several recording studios were established in Dhaka around that time, producing many pop songs about national heroes and the recently concluded Liberation War. Ferdous Wahid, who began singing in the early 1970s, said, "I wanted to introduce western music in Bangladesh, so after the Liberation War I decided to do pop music for our country's people." Azam Khan, Fakir Alamgir, Ferdous Wahid, Pilu Momtaz, Najma Zaman, and Firoz Shah are considered pioneers who brought fame to Bangladeshi pop music. Azam Khan, in particular, is known as the "pop guru" or "pop samrat" (emperor of pop) of Bangladesh. In the genre of film music, well-known singers include Sabina Yasmin, Runa Laila, and Andrew Kishore. Sabina Yasmin has won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer 14 times, and Runa Laila has won the award 7 times. Andrew Kishore won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer 8 times.
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Music only, no news or talk. Stations that play the local tradition come first, then the most listened. They play in the corner of the page.
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