Amongst the traditional forms of Hindustani music, Tappa is a semi-classical vocal style that originated during the 18th century in the royal courtyards of Awadh. Incepted by Mian Ghulam Nabi Shori or Shori Mian, a court singer for Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daulah and inspired by the folk songs of Punjab's camel riders, Tappa amalgamates two of India's richest cultures. Characterised by rapid and intertwined tunes, this musical form was popularised by a number of stalwarts of vocal art.
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Amidst the many artists who have embraced this form, Laxman Rao Pandit, Shamma Khurana, Manvalkar, Girija Devi, Ishwarchandra Karkare and Jayant Khote are some notable names. Literally meaning jumping or leaping, Tappa encapsulates repetitive notes which can quickly grasp the attention of any listener. Joyous and vivacious, Tappa resonates with a unique kind of high-spirit rhythm, that can motivate thriving thoughts. What's bound to leave you awestruck is the constant flow of notes without any interruption!
Seeking creative stimulus from the songs of camel riders of Punjab and Sindh, Mian Ghulam Nabi Shori of Awadh developed Tappa into a full-fledged style. While the singer-courtier was trained in Khayal singing, he traveled to Punjab to satiate his craving for fine music and later developed this style. Taking his legacy forward, Malini Rajurkar from Gwalior Gharana revived the curiosity around Tappa in the latter half of the 20th century.
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Finding patronage by a wide range of music lovers, the style evolved continuously through the generations, as different artists gave different definitions to it. Touching upon the themes of love and physical intimacy, Tappa creates enchanting metaphors around the union and partition of lovers.
Tappa can beautifully express affection, anger, melancholy or any other emotion with crisp words and complex tunes. Stitching together intricate taans, Tappa requires rigorous practice and skill alignment. Once mastered, the artist gifts herself/himself with an impeccable way of impressing others. If you are enticed by this exceptional part of Lucknow's heritage, an exploration of it can transfer you into the lost days of yore!
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