Music from Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s music draws on a rich Bengali heritage of poetry, devotion, storytelling, and rural life, from Baul mystic song and classical forms to modern popular music.

Bangladesh is traditionally very rich in its musical heritage. From the ancient times, music documented the lives of the people and was widely patronized by the rulers.

Bengali music in ancient times was mostly linked to prayer. Most folk songs are related to some sort of praise of the gods and their creation. Songs were associated with particular groups of people, such as fishermen, cart-drivers, hermits and so on. Most songs were based on classical themes.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia’s “Music of Bangladesh” article.

This performance offers an example of Bangladesh’s Bengali musical culture, where melody and poetic expression remain closely intertwined.