The music of Nepal encompasses a wide variety of musical styles and genres

The music of Nepal encompasses a wide variety of musical styles and genres that are enjoyed and performed throughout the country. With more than 50 different ethnic groups represented in Nepal, the music scene is incredibly diverse, with each group bringing its unique style and traditions to the mix.

 

Some of the most popular genres of Nepalese music include Tamang Selo, Chyabrung, Dohori, Adhunik Geet, Bhajan, Filmi music, Ghazal, Classical music, and Ratna music. However, there are many other lesser-known genres that have yet to be fully explored and documented. In addition, western musical styles like rock, metal, hip-hop, rap, and R&B have also gained popularity in Nepal and can be found on the local music charts.

 

Many of the country's musical bands are based in the Kathmandu Valley, which serves as a hub for the Nepalese music industry. Throughout Nepal's history, musical styles from Tibet and India have had a significant impact on Nepalese music, helping to shape and influence the country's unique musical landscape.

 

Unveiling the Rich Cultural Diversity in Nepalese Music

 

Tamang Sangeet

The Tamang community is renowned for their traditional instrument, the Damphu, which is often used in their Tamang Selo music alongside the Tungna. Interestingly, it is believed that the British drew inspiration for creating drum sets during their time in India from the Damphu. While some contemporary Tamang Selo music has incorporated Western and Indian instruments, the traditional sound of the Damphu remains an integral part of their music.

Hira Devi Waiba is a celebrated figure in Nepali folk music, having sung over 300 songs during her 40-year career. Following her passing in 2011, her son Satya Waiba and daughter Nanveet Aditya Waiba took it upon themselves to honor their mother's legacy by re-recording her songs with a new sound and releasing them under Navneet's vocals, resulting in the album Ama Lai Shraddhanjali - Tribute to Mother. Navneet is unique in the Nepali folk music genre as she exclusively sings traditional Nepali folk songs without any modernization or alteration.

 

Classical Sangeet

In the Kathmandu Valley, there is a vibrant community of professional classical musicians, with a number of popular bands and established classical music organizations. Some of the well-known bands in Nepal include Sur-Sudha, Sukarma, Trikaal, and Kutumba. Meanwhile, classical music organizations such as Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, Nepal Sangeet Vidyalaya, SK Gurukul Sangeet Pathshala, Narayan Music Academy, Gandharva Sangeet Vidyalaya, Shree Sangeet Pathshala, Kirateswor Sangeet Ashram, Kapan Sanger Sarowar, Yalamaya Kendra, Ram Mandir, Gurukul Sangeet Pathshala, and Atul Music Memorial Gurukul have played an important role in the development of Nepali classical music.

The Nepali classical music scene is also home to a number of renowned musicians who have made significant contributions to the field. These include Tara Bir Singh Tuladhar, born in 1943, sitarist Uma Thapa, born in 1950, Bijaya Vaidya, Prem Rana, Manose Singh, born in 1979, Mohan Sundar Shrestha, born in 1943, Surendra Shrestha, and Sur Sudha.

 

Dohori (Folk Music)

Dohori is a popular Nepali folk music genre with its roots in rural courtship traditions. The term "Dohori" literally means "from both sides" or "a debate" in Nepali. Typically, Dohori performances involve a musical debate between two teams, usually consisting of boys and girls, who engage in quick-witted poetry in a musical rhythm.

During a Dohori performance, the song begins with a question, usually posed by the boys' team. The girls' team responds with a clever and speedy retort, and the two teams continue this musical conversation. These performances can last for as long as a week, and the length of the Dohori is largely dependent on the players' quick thinking ability and wit.

 

Adhunik Sangeet

In Nepal, Adhunik sangeet, also known as sugam sangeet, is a popular genre of music comprising soft and melodious songs. The late Narayan Gopal, also called the "Swar Samrat," or King of Voice in Nepali, was a renowned singer of this style. He produced many hits, including "Euta Manchhe Ko" and "Yeti Dherai Maya Dii." Another celebrated artist in this category is Aruna Lama, who is widely known as the "Nightingale of the Hills." She has sung hundreds of Nepali songs and remains a prominent figure in the music industry.

 

Maithili Sangeet

Maithili Music is a type of music that has a long history in South Asia and has its roots in the Mithila region, which spans parts of India and Nepal. Its exact origins are unknown due to its ancient history, but it is believed to have played a significant role in the development of other types of music in the region. While Maithili music traditionally uses classical instruments, it has evolved and now incorporates modern instruments as well. Some notable figures who have contributed to this genre include Maha Kavi Vidyapati Thakur, Udit Narayan Jha, and Sharda Sinha. Additionally, the region's folk songs are intimately tied to the everyday experiences of ordinary people.

 

Newa Sangeet (Newari Geet)

Newa music, which is also known as Newar Music, is an indigenous form of traditional music that originated in Nepal through the creativity of the Newar people. This genre of music has its roots in classical Hindu and Buddhist music, but has evolved over time with the incorporation of folk music from the Kathmandu valley and its surroundings. The music is characterized by the use of percussion and wind instruments, with the Dhime drum being a popular choice among the Newar community. Narayan Gopal, a prominent figure in Nepali music, is highly regarded as a cultural icon in Nepal and is known as "Swar Samrat" or "Emperor of Voice" for his contributions to the genre. Additionally, he is also referred to as the "Tragedy King" due to his numerous tragic songs.

 

Gurung Sangeet

The Gurung community has a rich cultural heritage, which includes the traditional practice of Rodhi. This is a gathering where young people come together to sing and dance to folk songs, share their perspectives, and socialize. One of the most popular forms of music performed at Rodhi is the Dohori, which involves young men and women singing and engaging in playful banter.

In addition to the Rodhi tradition, several ancient dance forms, such as Ghantu and Chudka, are still performed in many Gurung villages, either as a solo or group performance. These dance forms date back several centuries and serve as a vital cultural element for the Gurung community. Music also plays an important role in the Gurung ritual of Argum, which is performed when someone from the community passes away. This ritual involves the use of music to commemorate the deceased and provide comfort to the bereaved.

Khem Raj Gurung is a well-known Gurung singer who has made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Gurung music and culture.

 

Kirat Sangeet

The Limbu people, also known as Yakthung, possess a rich culture that includes diverse forms of music, dance, and musical instruments. Among their various traditional dances, the Dhan Naach, also called the paddy dance, and Chyabrung, or Chyabrung Nach, are particularly renowned. Similarly, the Rai community celebrates their traditional dance called Sakela, which is performed during the important festivals of Udauli and Ubhuali. These festivals hold significant cultural and religious importance for the Kirati people, and many of their dance forms involve performing rituals and making religious offerings in honor of their religious text, the Mundhum.

 

Sherpa Sangeet

Sherpa music has strong roots in Tibetan Buddhism and shares similarities with the music of Tibet in the trans-Himalayan region. While Tibetan music is primarily religious, reflecting the influence of Tibetan Buddhism, Sherpa music has also been influenced by the cultural traditions of Nepal.

This Nepalese music is characterized by unison singing and occasional accompaniment on the damian, a stringed instrument similar to the lute that provides a strong rhythmic base. The musicians generally sing in Helambu, which is a Sherpa-Tibetan dialect, and sometimes in Tibetan. The themes of the songs include religion, the desire for material wealth, the natural landscape, and a sense of an ordered world in contrast to the nomadic pattern of many peoples' lives. The liner notes of Sherpa music albums often include a description of the village and its music, track notes, and lyrics in Helambu/Tibetan as well as English translations.

 

Bhajan / Kritan

A bhajan is a type of devotional song that is used to express praise and invoke the blessings of various deities. These songs do not have a specific structure, and can range from simple mantras to more complex kirtans. Bhajans are often characterized by their poetic lyrics, which express a deep sense of love and devotion towards the Divine. In Nepal, bhajans that are dedicated to popular deities such as Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, and Sai Baba are particularly well-known. Some notable Bhajan singers from Nepal include Bhakta Raj Acharya and Koili Devi Mathema.

 

Filmi Sangeet

Nepal has embraced filimi music, which is produced for mainstream movies and has gained widespread popularity. Since cinema in Nepal has a relatively brief history, filimi music is still developing and undergoing changes.

 

Gazal

A gazal is a poetic form of music that consists of rhyming couplets and a refrain, all written in the same meter. Its lyrical content typically expresses emotions such as pain, loss, and separation, as well as the beauty of love and nature. The gazal is a delicate and ancient form of poetry and music that originated in 6th-century Arabic verse. It eventually spread into South Asia during the 12th century through the influence of Sufi mystics and the Islamic Sultanate's courts in India and South Asia. Despite its association with Dari and Urdu poetry, the influence of the gazal can be seen in the poetry of many languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent. The written form of the gazal in Nepali language was introduced by Motiram Bhatta in approximately 1890. Seturam Shrestha (1891-1941) has also been credited with pioneering gazals in Nepal.

 

Magar Sangeet

Magar music is known for its distinctive genres such as Salaijo, Kauda, and Sorathi. These genres are exclusive to Magar culture and have been passed down through generations. One of the notable singers of Magar music is Master Mitrasen Thapa Magar. He has contributed greatly to preserving and promoting the rich musical heritage of the Magar community.

 

Tharu Sangeet

The Tharu community of Nepal has a rich cultural heritage, which includes their traditional music. This type of music has been passed down through generations and is still being played today. Tharu music is considered to be one of the oldest forms of music in Nepal. Some popular Tharu songs include Sajana, Maghiya, and Dashainya, which are commonly sung in the western regions of Nepal.

 

 

Similar to various regions globally, Nepal has also been exposed to modern influences and their expressions. However, these influences can endanger the existence of Nepalese folk music. In response, there has been a rise in the number of local startups and initiatives, such as Baja Nepal, that goal to promote the preservation of folk music. Various noteworthy endeavors include:

 

 

Rock / Metal

 

Robin and The New Revolution

Abhaya & the Steam Injuns

1974 AD

Cobweb

Albatross

Mantra

The Axe

The Edge Band

Mukti N Revival

Amokkshan

Shadow In Shade

Antim Grahan

Divine Influence

Dying Out Flame

Kalodin

Rage Hybrid

Serpent Gaze

Ugrakarma

Underside

X-Mantra

Nude Terror

 

Pop Muisc

 

Om Bikram Bista

Nabin K Bhattarai

Indira Joshi

Sajjan Raj Vaidya

Sugam Pokharel

Raju Lama

Ram Krishna Dhakal

Norden Tenzing Bhutia

Sanjay Shrestha

Nepathya

Neetesh Jung Kunwar

Swoopna Suman

Bartika Eam Rai

Sushant KC

Bipul Chettri

Trishala Gurung

Deep Shrestha

Bikki Gurung

Rajesh Napali

Jerusha Rai

Ankit Shrestha

 

Hip Hop (Nephop)

 

Yama Buddha (Anil Adhikari)

Uniq Poet (Utsaha Joshi)

Nasty (Abhishek Baniya)

Sacar aka Lil Buddha (Sacar Adhikari)

VTEN (Samir Ghising)

GRIZZLE

V$X (Sachin K.C)

BALEN (Balen Shah)

MC FLO (Anurag Sharma)

Symfamous (Saurav Shrestha)

Easi 12 (Tsering D. Sherpa)

Yoddha (Shaman Gurung)

Manas Ghale

Vyoma (Suraj Chhetry)

Laure (Aashish Rana)

Dong (Mahesh Dong)

Mr.D (Sandip Bista)

G-Bob (Sudeep Bhandari)

 

Nepali Band

 

1974 AD

Albatross

Anuprastha

Cobweb

Kandara

Kta haru

Kutumba

Mantra

Monkey Temple

Mukti and Revival

Nepathya

Pahenlo Batti Muni

Phosphenes

Sabin Rai and The Pharaoh

The Edge Band

The Elements

The Shadows 'Nepal'

Axe Band