Thumri

Thumri (Hindi: [ˈʈʰʊmɾiː]) is a vocal genre or style of Indian music.[1][2] The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb thumuknaa, which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dramatic gestures, mild eroticism, evocative love poetry and folk songs, especially from Uttar Pradesh, though there are regional variations.[3]

The text is romantic or devotional in nature, the lyrics are usually in Bhojpuri, Awadhi and Brij Bhasha.[4] Thumree is characterized by its sensuality, and by a greater flexibility with the raga.

Thumri is also used as a generic name for some other, even lighter, forms such as Dadra, Hori, Kajari, Sawani, Jhoola, and Chaiti, even though each of them has their own structure and content — either lyrical or musical or both—and so the exposition of these forms vary. Like Indian classical music itself, some of these forms have their origin in folk literature and music.

  1. ^ "South Asian arts – Musical forms and instruments". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 1, 2020. The thumri is another North Indian vocal form and is based...
  2. ^ "Thumri | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Ranade, Ashok Da. (1997). Hindustani Music. India: National Book Trust, India. p. 66. ISBN 81-237-2199-4.
  4. ^ Bhāratīya sāhitya (in Hindi). Agra University. K.M. Institute of Hindi Studies and Linguistics. 1973.