Deepalaya

Choral music or group singing had its origins in the Western world, with the Greek and Jewish cultures of the pre-Christian era believed to be where the foundations of this form of music were laid. The Choral traditions were transformed through centuries in various forms, mainly as a form of worship. From around year 1450 AD onwards, the Western mu... sic scene saw the emergence of famous classical composers of Choral music like Palestrina, Andrea and Giovanni Gabrielli, J.S. Bach, Beethoven and George Frideric Handel. However, secular Choral singing started in earnest only after 1600 AD, mainly with the coming of Italian operas. After the Political and Industrial revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries, Choral music evolved to encourage loyalty among various groups and social structures through sponsorships of Choral groups. Choral music also became the ideal medium for nationalistic sentiments, especially in times of war and crises. The Choral Group of world renowned pop singers who came together for a superstar charity recording 'We are the World' (USA for Africa) to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia in 1985, comes to mind among recent famous Choral events on the international popular music stage. Choral singing in India has been kept alive by the often criticized State organs like All India Radio and Doordarshan, with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army anthems like 'kadam kadam badhaaye ja' and other patriotic Choral presentations being aired/telecast to reinforce nationalistic feelings. Secular Choral groups like 'Calcutta Youth Choir' and other more religious based ones like the 'Paranjoti Academy Chorus' of Mumbai and our own city's 'Delhi Christian Chorus' and the 'Capital City Minstrels' have helped to carry forward the Choral traditions. Now we have this unique attempt at a secular, multi-lingual Choral Group from Deepalaya, an NGO that has been more known for its work in the slums of Delhi and in developmental work for the less advantaged sections of society. This Choral group ...Read More