Listen: How tabla players accompany songforms that celebrate the monsoon

As the monsoon approaches, it is time to hear a musical response from practitioners of Hindustani vocal music who have learnt special songforms associated with this season.

Of course, there are several instances of vocalists who have heard such compositions from recordings and have chosen to interpret them without providing acknowledgement to the original source. But if the ethical aspect were to be set aside (as it so often is by such musicians), it is important to note that despite being in urban settings, vocalists are drawn to these compositions that conjure up imagery from an essentially rural environment.

The attraction may be due to several reasons, but the need to include compositions of this nature in concert repertoire is very much a reality even in today’s rapidly changing world.

For tabla players who aspire to become versatile accompanists not only to vocal and instrumental music, but also to forms within vocal music, it is imperative that they acquaint themselves as much with seasonal songforms as with khayal and thumri-dadra. I had already discussed tabla accompaniment with songforms related to the spring season. Today, we will look closely at the role of the tabla player while accompanying compositions that celebrate monsoon.

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