Music MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Music - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Birha.

• Birha is a popular Folk song genre of Uttar Pradesh. 

Key Point

• This genre is mood-based and the basic theme revolves around the separation of lover and his beloved.
• Actually 'Birha' in English means separation.
• The history of this genre is not very old and the earliest reference goes back to the 17th century.
• The possible origination of this folk genre is credited to the incidents where mostly men from small villages used to migrate to cities in search of livelihood.
• Often they had to leave their newly-weds behind in the village only.
• The lament of separation and carnal desire among the womenfolk of the village led to the birth of Birha.
• The genre is extremely popular among the farmers and labourers in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• The best example of this is the growing popularity of Chutney Music, the Soca-Samba version of Birha, in the west, especially in the Caribbean Islands.

Additional Information

• Tappa was derived from the folk music of Punjab and Sindh.
• Dhamar is one of the talas used in Hindustani classical music from the Indian subcontinent.
  • It is associated with the dhrupad style.
• Qawwalis comes from North Indian folk tradition.
  • And is widely used by bhangra bands, as well as Qawwali groups, although the playing techniques are different.

The correct answer is Kajari.

• The Kajari folk music of Uttar Pradesh is mostly sung during the monsoon months and is also reflective of the mood of separation.
• It is sung in the month of Sawan by females.
• It also evolved into the form of semi-classical singing and its singing style is closely associated with the Banaras Gharana.
• Uttar Pradesh has produced some of the greatest exponents of Kajari such as Pundit Chhanulal Misra, Shobha Gurtu, Girja Devi, Rajan, and Sajan Mishra among others

Key Points

• Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populous state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world.
• UP was created on 1 April 1937 as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh during British rule and was renamed Uttar Pradesh in 1950, giving it the acronym UP.
• The state is divided into 18 divisions and 75 districts, with the state capital being Lucknow, and Allahabad serving as the judicial capital.
• The two major rivers of the UP state, the Ganges and Yamuna, join at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad and flow further east as the Ganges.
• According to the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), Uttar Pradesh tops the list of states of encounter killings and custodial deaths.
• Yogi Adityanath of the Bharatiya Janata Party is serving as the incumbent chief minister since March 19, 2017.

Additional Information

• Folk Music of Uttar Pradesh are:

The correct answer is Punjab.

Key Points

• Zakir Hussain is a world-renowned tabla player and percussionist from the Punjab Gharana.
• He was born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, India, and comes from a family of musicians, including his father, the legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.
• Hussain has collaborated with numerous prominent musicians from around the world, including Ravi Shankar, George Harrison, and Mickey Hart.
• He has received multiple awards and honors for his contributions to music, including the Padma Shri (1988) Padma Bhushan(2002) and the Grammy Award (2009).
• Hussain is known for his virtuosic and innovative approach to playing the tabla, blending traditional Indian rhythms with influences from other musical traditions.
• He has also been involved in music education and has conducted workshops and masterclasses around the world.
• In addition to his solo career, Hussain is a founding member of the fusion group Shakti and has been a part of many other successful musical collaborations.

Additional Information

• Farrukhabad Gharana:
  • The Farrukhabad Gharana is a prominent school of tabla playing in North Indian classical music.
  • It originated in the town of Farrukhabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
  • The Farrukhabad Gharana is known for its emphasis on rhythmic complexity and virtuosity.
  • The gharana has a rich tradition of guru\-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple relationship).
  • It continues to be an important force in the world of Indian classical music.
  • The Farrukhabad Gharana has produced several renowned tabla maestros who have made significant contributions to the art form.
• Delhi Gharana:
  • The Delhi Gharana is a prominent school of North Indian classical music, known for its vocal and instrumental traditions.
  • It originated in Delhi, India, and has a rich history dating back several centuries.
  • The Delhi Gharana is known for its unique blend of Hindustani classical music with elements of Sufi poetry and folk traditions.
  • The Delhi Gharana has influenced the development of classical music in India and has contributed to the preservation of traditional musical forms.
  • It remains an integral part of Delhi's cultural heritage and continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.
• Lucknow Gharana:
  • The Lucknow Gharana is a prominent school of North Indian classical music, known for its vocal traditions.
  • It originated in Lucknow, India, and has a rich history dating back several centuries.
  • The Lucknow Gharana is known for its unique blend of khayal gayaki (vocal style) with elements of thumri, dadra, and other semi-classical forms.
  • The Lucknow Gharana has influenced the development of classical music in India and has contributed to the preservation of traditional musical forms.
  • It remains an integral part of Lucknow's cultural heritage and continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.
• Punjab Gharana
  • The Punjab Gharana is a prominent school of North Indian classical music, known for its vocal traditions.
  • It originated in Punjab, India, and has a rich history dating back several centuries.
  • The Punjab Gharana is known for its unique blend of khayal gayaki (vocal style) with elements of Punjabi folk music and Sufi poetry.
  • The Punjab Gharana has influenced the development of classical music in India and has contributed to the preservation of traditional musical forms.
  • It remains an integral part of Punjab's cultural heritage and continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

The correct answer is Allaudin Khan.

Key Points

• Allaudin Khan is a renowned Indian musician who is associated with the musical instrument Sarod.
• He is considered to be one of the pioneers of Indian classical music and was the teacher of several famous musicians, including Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan.
• Allaudin Khan was also a composer and created several new ragas that are still performed today.
• He founded the Maihar gharana, a school of classical music that combines elements of the Hindustani and Carnatic styles.
•  Hariprasad Chaurasia, Annapurna Devi, and Vilayat Khan are all famous musicians, but they are associated with different instruments. Hariprasad Chaurasia is a renowned flutist, Annapurna Devi was a sitar player, and Vilayat Khan was a sitar and surbahar player.
• Hence, the correct answer is option 4, Allaudin Khan.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Shenai.

Key Points

• Ustad Bismillah Khan:
  • He was an Indian musician who played the shehnai.
  • Original name: Qamruddin Khan.
  • Born: March 21, 1916, Bihar and Orissa province
  • Died: 2006, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
  • Khan was a devout Muslim but performed at both Hindu and Muslim ceremonies and was considered a symbol of religious harmony.
  • Bismillah Khan had won the rarest rare honor of performing at the Red Fort in Delhi on the evening of the Independence Day of India in 1947.
  • He Awarded with the Bharat Ratna in 2001.
  • Got Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1956.

Additional Information

• Important Indian instrumental player:

The correct answer is Mizoram.

Key Points

Mizoram- Khuang

• Khuang is a Mizo indigenous instrument that has an important value in the Mizo society both socially as well as religiously.
• Khuang is made up of a Hollow tree wrapped with animal skin on both sides.

Additional Information

Assam- Gogona

• Gogona is a popular Assamese musical instrument.
• It is made up of Bamboo.

Jharkhand- Singa

• Singa is a traditional wind instrument from Jharkhand.
• Singa is made up of Bamboo and Buffalo Horn.

West Bengal- Dotara

• The dotara is one of the most important instruments used in various genres of folk music in Bengal and Assam.
• It is made up of hardwood like neem etc.

The correct answer is Punjab Gharana.

Key Points

• Alla Rakha became a renowned player of Tabla.
• He specialized in Hindustani Classical music and belongs to Punjab Gharana.
• He is often seen accompanying Sitar specialist Pandit Ravi Shankar.
• He played an important role in introducing the Tabla to the West.
• He received the Padma Shri in 1977 and Sangeet Natak Akademi  Award in 1982.
• Tabla is a percussion instrument that consists of two drums: the smaller one is called the dayan and the larger one is called the bayan.

The correct answer is Ektara.

Important Points

• A bamboo is inserted through the center of the gourd, the upper side of the gourd sliced out and covered with skin.
• The string used is a single steel string.

Key Points

• The word Ektara is derived from two words, Ek meaning “one” and tara meaning “string”.
• It is a one-stringed musical instrument that can produce a wide variety of tunes and melodies.
• Ektara
• 
• Esraj
• 
• Edakka
• 
• Ekkalam
• 

Additional Information

           Some other musical instruments

The correct answer is Sarangi.Key Points

• Ustad Sultan Khan was an Indian Sarangi player.
• A sarangi is a bowed stringed instrument with a skin-covered resonator.
• Ustad Sultan Khan was also a classical vocalist belonging to Sikar Gharana.
• He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Sitar.

Key Points

• Ilyas Khan
  • Ilyas Khan (1924-1989) was born in Lucknow to a family of musicians.
  • His father belonged to the Shahjahanpur Gharana of sarod players while his mother came from the Lucknow Gharana of Sarod players.
  • He was introduced to the sitar by his father.
  • He was a disciple of Abdul Ghani Khan - a dhrupad singer from Kalpi. 

Additional Information 

Instrument Description Image Tabla A pair of twin hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. It consists of a small right-hand drum called dayan and a larger metal one called bayan. Sitar A plucked stringed instrument, known for its complex and expressive melodies. It typically has 18-21 strings. Veena A plucked stringed instrument. Types of veenas vary, the most popular today being the Saraswati veena. It usually has 24 frets and 4 main plus 3 auxiliary strings. Mridangam A double-headed percussion instrument. The two heads are usually played with hands and fingers.

The correct answer is Alha.

• Alha is a popular folk song of Bundelkhand. Some other forms of song famous in Bundelkhand include Faag, Lamtera, Dadre, and Gari.

Important Points

• Birha-It is a folk song which mainly belongs to Ahir Communities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• The term "Birha" in Hindi means "Separation".This folk music found its origin in the early nineteenth century.
• The ethos of a Biraha is every so often heroic (Veer Rasa) and of humour (Hasya Rasa).
• Rasiya-It is a popular folk music that belongs to Braj region of Uttar Pradesh.
• The most common instruments in this genre are dholak, sarangi, and harmonium.
• Rasiya contains lyrics, euphemisms, and double meanings often exhibiting the love between the Hindu gods of Krishna and Radha.
• Languria-It is another form of Rasiya.

The correct answer is Kajri.

• Kajri is one of the renowned folk songs of Uttar Pradesh.
• Kajri is generally sung by the women in Uttar Pradesh in the Bhojpuri language.
• Kajri is sung as the ode to the dark clouds which nurtures and devastates, brings life, and sometimes death.
• Kajri is often used to describe the longing of a maiden for her lover.

Important Points

• There are various genres of Kajri, which are, Saawan, Jhoola, Birha, etc.
• The main motifs in Kajri music include Radha and Krishna who are the iconic imagery of divine lovers.

Additional Information

• Rasia is also a genre of the Folk-Song from UP which is popular in the Braj region.
• Chaiti is sung generally during the holy festival of Rama Navami.

The correct answer is Tabla.

Key Points

• Ustad Alla Rakha
  • Indian tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi (29 April 1919), often known as Alla Rakha, was an expert in Hindustani classical music. 
  • He frequently followed the sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar, and he played a significant role in introducing the tabla to western audiences.
  • Alla Rakha received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1982 and the Padma Shri in 1977.
  • On April 29, 2014, the day of his 95th birthday, he was also featured in a Google doodle.
  • Under the guidance of Ashiq Ali Khan of the Patiala Gharana, he studied voice and raga vidya. 
  • Ustad Allah Rakha's oldest child is Zakir Hussain.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Shiv Kumar Sharma.

• Shiv Kumar Sharma is a famous Santoor instrumentalist.

Key Points

• ​Shiv Kumar Sharma:
  • He is a  music composer and a santoor maestro.
  • He hails from the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
• Santoor:
  • It is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer instrument.
  • It is a traditional instrument of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Additional Information

• Ustad Binda Khan is a Sarangi maestro.
• Sajjad Hussain was a music composer.
• Nikhil Banerjee is a Sitar maestro.