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Chapter 11

SONGS AND STORIES

Screenshot 2025-05-19 140927Hindustani classical, Baul gaan, bollywood songs, Hip hop — you may have heard some of these styles of music.

Different kinds of music sound different. They have unique characteristics of style, patterns, origin, instruments and purpose.

A music genre is a category that groups music based on shared characteristics, sounds, or patterns.

Can you name some genres of music that you have heard? What is unique about them?

We can generally categorise music into four major categories:

1. Folk music — Lok sangeet

2. Classical music — Hindustani and Carnatic

3. Other traditional forms — Devotional music, Rabindra Sangeet, semi-classical, etc.

4. Popular or creative music — Film songs, pop songs, etc.

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Activity 11.1

Identify the Genre

Listen to the following music samples online and identify which genre they belong to:

1. Raga Bhupali by Hariprasad Chaurasia
2. Ye Dosti hum nahin todenge
3. Rabindra Sangeet by Kanika Bandyopadhyay
4. Kesariya balam by Manganiyar musicians

Why Music?

Have you ever thought about the role of music in our lives?

Music tells stories, makes us feel emotions and celebrates traditions.

In many cultures and languages, there are special songs for festivals and special events and times of the year. Sometimes, the same event may be celebrated in different ways by different groups of people.

DO YOU KNOW?

The harvest festival is celebrated all over India, but has many different names. What is it called in your region?


Raga Bhupali by Hariprasad Chaurasia
Raga Bhupali by
Hariprasad Chaurasia
Ye dosti hum nahin todenge
Ye dosti hum nahin
todenge
Rabindra Sangeet by Kanika Bandyopadhyay
Rabindra Sangeet by Kanika
Bandyopadhyay
Kesariya balam by Manganiyar musicians
Kesariya balam by
Manganiyar musicians

Activity 11.2

Harvest Songs

Here is a song from Punjab about Baisakhi, the harvest festival:

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Name some harvest festivals from around the country:

Punjabi — Baisakhi Song Traditional Folk Song

Aayi Vaisakhi, Aayi Vaisakhi Challo paiye bhangra Muk gayi khetaan di rakhi, Ral ke paiye bhangra.

Baapu bechi kanak te Kheesa nota de naal bharya. Maa ne seeta suit sohrna Gote de naal jadiya.

Aao saheliyon, aao haarniyon Saare paiye bhangra. Saare paiye bhangra.

Aayi Vaisakhi..

Saare maro taaliyaan te Phir main boli paawan Boli paa ke gori nu main Gidhe vich nach awan.

Nache gori matak matak ke Asi vi paiye bhangra. Asi vi paiye bhangra.

Aayi Vaisakhi..

Haan ji paiye bhangra.

Challo pai bhangra.

Find a song from another part of the country that celebrates the harvest season, listen to it, write down the words, and learn to sing it. Do the songs sound similar or different? If so, how?

Musical Styles

Let us learn two types of songs — a lullaby and a patriotic song.

Activity 11.3

Lullaby — Ennamma Thozhi

Language: Tamil
Traditional Folk Song

Ennamma thozhi bommaya kaanum Naan enna seyya poren

Ennamma thozhi bommaya kaanum Naan enna seyya poren

Thalai vaari pinni

Pookal vaithu pudhu chattai pottu vittu Iypasi maasam kaveri snanam

Bommaya vaangi vandhen

Song link: https://tinyurl.com/ Ennamma-Thozhi

Activity 11.4

Patriotic Song

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Songs are a wonderful way to express our love for our country and to bring people together. There are many wonderful patriotic songs that you can sing in a group.

Here are some popular patriotic songs. Find the songs online and learn to sing them in a group.

1. Nanha munna rahi hu

Composer: Naushad
Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni

Nanha munna rahi hu, desh ka sipahi hu,

Bolo mere sang Jai Hind, Jai Hind Jai Hind, Jai Hind, Jai Hind

2. Aao bachchon tumhe dikhaye

Composer: Hemanth Kumar
Lyricist: Kavi Pradeep

Aao bachcho tumhe dikhaye jhanki Hindustan kee

Iss mittee se tilak karo yeh dharatee hai balidan kee

Vande Mataram Vande Mataram

Vande Mataram Vande Mataram

Find a patriotic song in your language. Learn it and share it with your class.

Activity 11.5

Songs for Unity

Music is a wonderful unifying force and has played an important role in nation-building. During India’s freedom struggle, songs served as an important tool to bring people together to fight for a common cause.

DO YOU KNOW?

Screenshot 2025-05-21 103301 Vande Mataram was written by Shri Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who glorified Bharat Mata (Mother India) in this poem. Even though Vande Mataram is commonly sung in Raga Des, it has many other versions, and is one of the most widely recorded songs in history.

One of the best-known songs is Vande Mataram, which ignited a spirit of patriotism among freedom fighters and the people of the country. Even today, it is a song that unites and uplifts us. While Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem, Vande Mataram is known as the National Song.

Learn to sing this song in a group.

Vande Mataram

Written by: Shri Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

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Vande Mataram Vande Mataram

Sujalam Suphalam Malayaja sheetalam Sasya Shyamalam mataram

Vande Mataram

Shubhra Jyotsnam Pulakita Yamineem

Pulla kusumita drumadala Shobhineem

Suhaasineem sumadhura bhashineem

Sukhadam varadam mataram

Vande Mataram

ASSESSMENT — Chapter 11: Songs and Stories
Competencies Learning Outcomes Teacher Self
C-3.2 Understands the concept of music genres
C-4.2 Is able to articulate differences between different types of songs
Understands the role of music in history and tradition
C-4.2 Is eager to explore various kinds of folk music

Teacher’s feedback on student’s strengths

Teacher’s feedback on areas of improvement

Any other observation