Ecomusicology is an interdisciplinary field that explores the intricate connections between music, culture, and the natural environment. Although its foundations trace back to scholars like R. Murray Schafer, who propagated the ideas of “Soundscape Ecology” and “Acoustic Ecology,” interest in ecomusicology grew significantly during the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Rabindranath Tagore, the poet, composer, and first Nobel Laureate of Asia, has created such a genre in Indian music (Rabindrasangit) which can be studied from an ecomusicological perspective. Tagore always considered nature as an entity worthy of respect from us, an approach which is now known as “Deep Ecology,” theorized by Arne Naess in 1973. Tagore introduced an educational system in Santiniketan and Sriniketan, where an eco-friendly attitude is still nurtured through performing seasonal festivals like “Briksharopan” (Tree Planting Ceremony), “Halakarshan” (Soil tillage festival), “Varshamangal” (Monsoon festival), whereby human beings are connected to nature through songs. Each of these songs invokes cognitive imagery of the climatic elements and claims positive human actions towards nature. Tagore followed Herbert Spencer, who believed in the power of music in controlling human action, rather than being a tool of entertainment. Later, Tagore himself preached this idea with men of letters like Romain Rolland, Albert Einstein, H.G. Wells, among others, and gathered international recognition. This paper seeks to explore Tagore’s ideology through a critical study of his nature-based songs, which can be instrumental in having a sustainable solution to combat climatic issues and can become a separate discourse of ecomusicology as well.

Authors:
Anwesa Chattopadhyay, University of Kalyani, India
Uttiya Chattopadhyay, Bhawanipur Education Society College, India

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Anwesa Chattopadhyay is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at Directorate of Open and Distance Learning, University of Kalyani, West Bengal. in India

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

Bookmark