thumri
Indian music
Quick Summary
Thumri is a vocal form in North Indian classical music, often drawing from romantic and devotional literature inspired by the bhakti movement. The lyrics, typically centered on the Radha-Krishna theme, are crucial, and the singer interprets them through melodic improvisations. While singers may briefly deviate from the established raga to evoke moods suggested by the words, they always return to the original raga. Thumri can also be rendered instrumentally, often based on vocal thumri compositions or folk tunes.1
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