Tribal Music in India
Tribal music is said to have found its roots in Africa and South America. Tribal music is very different from folk music in India. Tribal music in India is reminiscent of its tribal culture. It represents cultural conditions as they were thousands of years ago.
Tribal music is a variation of house music. It mostly consists of drum-beats and there is no specific melody. There is no prolonged synth sound in such music. The instruments used are not as refined as the ones used in classical music. The instruments are generally prepared by the musicians themselves using materials like coconut shells, animal skin, etc.
The beats are based on sophisticated and synchronised drum patterns which create a rhythm. There can be various drum sounds in a particular track. Other instruments used include horse hair violin, duduk, bamboo flutes, santoor, sitar etc.
The definition of tribal music is vague, since tracks are recognised as tribal because of their live sound. Lyrical chanting and traditional sounds comprise contemporary tribal music. The original, ethnic tribal music is produced live with drums and other musical instruments.
Tribal music or folk music is not taught the same way as classical music. There are no schools that teach tribal music. It is learnt by osmosis. It is passed down from generations to generations. However as times and tastes change, variations in the contemporary form are inevitable. A variation in tribal music produced as a result of digital instrumentation is known as tribal house.
