The Santals are known for their rich seren-enec, or song dance traditions. Music, dance, song and poetry are integral to Santal culture, intimately related to the seasons, festivals and rites of passage. It is said that amongst the Santals there is no woman who cannot dance or sing and no man who does not beat the drum or play the flute. In intonation pattern, rhythmic structure and metric frame, as well as in underlying aesthetic principles, Santal music displays very distinctive musical elements. The exhibition documents aspects of the tangible and intangible heritage of Santal music over time, including the remarkable sculpting skills embodied in the musical instruments of the tradition. […]
Musical knowledge is transmitted through a collective oral-aural, participative method, in which memory and tradition are the basic principles. Music skills are acquired by listening and repeating, by assimilating formulary materials, and by participation in a kind of communal retrospection. […]
The Santal are best known for their rich traditions of dance and music, especially the latter, which has influenced mainstream music in India. Their very distinct culture has attracted researchers, scholars, travellers and explorers into their midst, who have brought back Santal stories and objects.
Source: courtesy Dr. Ruchira Ghose (Co-Curator, New Delhi, 21 January 2016); for photo and detailed credits, please check the multimedia production available at Google Arts and Culture here >>
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Tip: view the actual slideshow, watch a video on Santal puppetry, listen to a rare 1914 Santali recording and read the full story
Find publications by reputed authors (incl. Open Access)
See also
Audio | Santali Traditional and Fusion Songs: Ghosaldanga Bishnubati Adibasi Trust – West Bengal
Banam (Santal string instrument)
– eBook: Banam Making Workshop at Bishnubati | Daricha Foundation
– Video: Banam Raja | Interview with Nunulal Marndi | Reviving the Huka Banam
eBook | Background guide for education
eBook | Free catalogue: Banam: One of the ancient musical instruments of the Santals
eBook | Free catalogue: Museum of Santal Culture (Bishnubati) – West Bengal
India’s tribal, folk and devotional music: Secular and ceremonial songs
Infusing the Santhali Element in Schooling by Rina Mukherji
Museum of Santal Culture Bishnubati
Music and dance | Adivasi music and the public stage by Jayasri Banerjee
Puppetry | Santali Chadar Badni / Chadar Bad(o)ni”| Daricha Foundation
– eBook: Cadence-and-counterpoint-documenting-santal-musical-traditions
– Video: Damon Murmu | Sahadev Kisku | Shibdhan Murmu
Santal | Santal creation myth | Santal Parganas | The Santals by Boro Baski
Santal cultural traditions documented on the Daricha Foundation website
Santal flute music: Audio resource by Adivaani.org – West Bengal & Jharkhand
Santali language | eBook | A Santali-English dictionary – Archive.org
Santal mission | Santali songs recorded in 1931 at Kairabani (Jharkhand)
Santal music | Santal Musical Traditions: National Museum (exhibition catalogue)
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