Q24

Note on structure of Bandishes

Barring some exceptions a Bandish (vocal music) and a Gat (instrumental
music) has four lines.
1) The first line or an introductory line is usually called mukhada in vocal
music and a Gat in instrumental music (though the entire structure is also called
a Gat).
2) The second line is called Manjha – originally called Madhya – which
means a middle line.
3) The third line is called Antara
4) The fourth line is called Aamad
Following the principle of several contemplated activities is circular in structure,
a Bandish or a Gat follows the same tenet. The first line is the starting point,
the manjha takes the melody into lower octave, the antara takes the melody to
upper octave and amad bring you down to the point where the composition
started and completes the circle.
Just as the melodic movement of the Bandish / Gat is circular in motion, the
literally content of a Bandish (vocal music) also has similar unfolding, for
instance –
अब गुमान मन नाही कįरए
जो सब गुनी जन कहेिचȅ धįरए
ȯान ƶान सुर ताल पहले
वाको साधन कįरए धįरए
It is noted that the literally content starts with a philosophical content including
respect for Guru. The antra portion takes the theme further with advice to
aspiring musicians. It is evident that the the me starts with Mukhada and
continues further through Manjha, Antra and Aamad to complete the narration