Jameela Siddiqi

Over a series of 6 weekly lectures with Jameela Siddiqi, the course aims to clarify some of the differences between classical and semi - (or light) classical music focusing on one of the most vital components of all Indian music: the aspect of “rasa” – the “essence” that draws out emotion in both the performer and the listener.

Aimed at non-experts who have a passion for, and enjoy listening to lighter forms of Hindustani Classical Music, the lecture sessions will take us on a journey through the evolution and growth of light-classical song forms like thumri, featuring a live Kathak dancer and choreographer who will demonstrate some of the emotions embedded in the song texts.

Other sessions will focus on folk music from a number of regions, (including Punjab and Rajasthan), examine the advent of film music since its inception in the 1930s and look at the performance context and meaning of a musical genre that is almost 700 years old – Qawwali, (the music of South Asian Sufis, or Islamic mystics).

Jameela Siddiqi is an award winning broadcaster, journalist, and novelist and a leading commentator on Indian classical music.