If the Newāh Civilization has carried along anything with them till this day apart from their traditional culture, festivals, dances or anything, then it is the heritage of music that is still alive in every court, back streets, and in inns in swaniga:.
The Newāh use a wide variety of music instruments found in diverse ensembles. Ensembles have two to more than 30; sometimes exceeds to around fifty players accompanied by other indefinite high pitch instruments (bells, log drums, rattles, cymbals etc.), definite pitch (flutes, plucked lutes, trumpets etc.), or a combination of both (usually flutes, drums).[1]
Music is a lifestyle of the Newāh Civilization. Dance is a prominent accompaniment of it. The entire civilization is entirely soaked up to various kinds of music that not single event or festivity, including a funeral procession, can occur without music. Music comes to scene in the Newāh society from “womb to tomb”.
Musical Instruments:
As suggested, 200 types of distinctive musical instruments were in use in Nepal; however, only 92 types of instruments are yet to be found until this day so far. And those already found 108 types of instruments are classified into four broad categories:
- Idiophones – Bhusyāh, Chhusyāh, TāinNāin etc.
- Membranophones – Dhime, Dhā:, Khin, Paschima, NāyaKhin etc.
- Aerophones – Muhāli, Kâa-pongchā, Nekoo, Bānsuri etc.
- Chordophones – Piwanchā
Membranophones are the most used musical instruments, which are played along with idiophones and aerophones.
Newāh people are also well known for their seasonal songs. The entire year is divided into six seasons. The songs are based on religious celebrations as well.
| Season | Festival | Song |
|---|---|---|
| Grishma (Summer) | Sithinakha to Gathāmuga Chare | Sinajyā |
| Warshā (Monsoon) | Gathāmuga Chare to Yanlā Punhi | Tukājyā |
| Sharad (Autumn) | Silu Myen | |
| Hemant (Fall) | Dashian (Mohanee) | Mālshree |
| Shishir (Winter) | Holi Myen | |
| Basanta (Spring) | Shree Panchami(Basanta Panchami) to Buddha Jayanti | Wangu Sima Chaya Mhasuma Jhangacha, Siri Siri Fasan Jita |
Used Resource(s):
- Roger Kamien, Music: An Appreciation. 6th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008) Print.
NEPÆNGLISH 