What is FUSION?

Bhangra
Can you think of
any examples of
Fusion?
 Background
Bhangra is a FUSION of
• Traditional music from the Punjab
• Western popular music
• It developed in the UK
in the 1980’s. WHY?
• In the 1960’s, many Punjabi families left
India and moved to the UK in search for a
better life
 The Dance
Traditional Bhangra
• Originally a male dance
• Movements reflected their work in
the field
• Celebration – Harvest Festival,
known as Vaisakhi
• Circular formation
• Mainly groups
 The MUSIC
Traditional Bhangra
• Emphasis on string and percussion
instruments
• Accompanied by vocal folk songs
(BOLIYAN)
• Led by the DHOL,
often in a distinctive,
syncopated beat
 TRADITIONAL
PUNJAB MUSIC
INSTRUMENTATION

What Indian Instruments

Sitar
 String Instruments

Tumbi Sarangi
Ektara
 String Instruments
The Sarangi and Sitar both have
SYMPATHETIC strings, which
resonate while the other string
are being played. It is these
Sympathetic strings which create
a ‘twangy’ resonating sound
Percussion instruments
Dhol Tabla

Chimtas
 Bhangra Rhythms
The Dhol provides a syncopated
rhythm, and a commonly used
pattern is the CHAAL.
It is kind of swung, dotted
rhythm

TEMPO tends to be Fast, 140-180 per minute, common time

- The use of voice/vocal

- RAGA (Indian scales, variety of

-MICROTONAL intervals
(Intervals smaller than a semitone)

-Use of SHOUTS– ‘Hoi!’

LATER
Hip-Hop Trance Garage House
 What elements from Western
Music would have been used?
- Verse/chorus structure
- Drum kit
- Keyboards
- Guitars – electric, acoustic, bass
- Digital effects: Drum machines,
sampling, scratching
 The Dance
Modern Bhangra
• More recently, a female dance
• Bhangra in the club = individual
and improvised.
Performers
Formed in 1977, and
essentially introduced
Bhangra as we know it today

5 brothers from
Wolverhampton, formed in
mid-1980’s. Their music is a
fusion of bhangra, rock, pop,
reggae and dance.
 Performers
A British musician,
Punjabi known for the song
MC ‘Mundian to Bach Ke’
(1998) known for its hip-
hop beat, use of a hook
on a mandolin. A version
was released by Jay Z in
2003, bringing bhangra to
a global audience.
Technology Influences

Melody Structure
Bhangra
v

Tempo

Rhythm Instruments
 Technology Western Popular music styles =
reggae, hip-hop, disco, rap mixed
Sampling, Synthesizers, with Traditional Punjabi music
drum machine,
Scratching
Influences
Structure
Melody Verse/chorus
Embellishments, Bhangra
v
microtonal intervals,
often falls at the end of Tempo
the phrase; RAGAS, Fast, crotchet = 140-
Shouts 180 per minute

Rhythm Instruments
Sitar, tumbi, sarangi., table
Syncopated, triplet feel, Dohl, Chimtas, mixed with Western pop
Dominated by the instruments such as Keyboards, drum kit,
CHAAL electric uitars
 Music technology
= synthesizers,
drum machines,
mixing,
scratching,

Chaal Influences sampling.

Structure
Dhol 4 beats in a bar;
verse-chorus
Bhangra
v

‘Hoi’ Tempo
Vocal melody
Instruments
Listening Task:
Complete the
grid and
discover the
musical features
of Bhangra.
 Juggy D: Alaap: Bhabiye Malkit Singh: Punjabi MC:
Akheer Ni Bhabiye Chal Hun Mundian Tu
Bach Ke
How many beats
in a
bar?
4 4 4 4
What is the
characteristic Chaal Chaal Chaal Chaal
rhythm?
What Sarangi, Sarangi,tabla Dhol, Dhol, tumbi,
instruments can tabla, tumbi dhol, tumbi, synthesizer
you hear? chimta, sitar tumbi
Describe the Limited range,
Limited vocal Limited vocal Limited vocal
vocals (style, Punjabi, elaborate
backing vocals range, range, range,
language etc). (improvised) Punjabi, ‘hoi’ Punjabi, ‘hoi’ Punjabi, ‘hoi’
What is the Verse-chorus, Verse-chorus, Verse-chorus,
structure of the instrumental instrumental instrumental
Verse-
song? intro interludes interludes chorus
Anything No electronic Latin influence – Cover
else... sounds Spanish guitar\?
version