How Tagore’s songs were ahead of their time in form and feeling
Rabindranath Tagore's music, celebrated on his 165th birth anniversary, continues to resonate deeply within Bengali culture. His songs, known as Rabindra Sangeet, blend words, melody, and emotion, offering a rich tapestry of themes from love to nature. Tagore's influence extends beyond Bengal, with his lyrical genius recognized globally, including by notable figures like W.B. Yeats.
- ▪Tagore's music is integral to Bengali identity, often experienced through singing and recitation.
- ▪He composed over 2,200 songs, each capturing various emotions and seasons.
- ▪His work gained international acclaim, leading to his Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Addressing a tutorial on the English romantics, a professor concluded: “Read Tagore, I implore you, to understand how unlike poets such as Shelley and Keats, he did not struggle to reconcile imagination and reality. This tip stayed with those students of Jadavpur University, one of whom I borrow the anecdote from to embark on this eminently rewarding but daunting endeavour to celebrate the poet-laureate’s musical oeuvre on his 165th birth anniversary, which was celebrated last week.Bengalis raised in Kolkata will readily profess how Rabindranath Tagore has been central to their formative years.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Hindu — Top
