The Language of Composition

Language is an important part of literature as well as music. The composition loses its effect if it does not have the beauty of language along with that of thought content and music. The compositions of Sadarang and Adarang are notable for their accurate and effective use of language, which express proper emotions along with the art form. Their compositions in various languages like Braj, Punjabi, Parsi, Rajasthani and Urdu hold the proof to this fact.

In those days, the Muslim tradition had a profound influence in the day to day life of people. Parsi was the language of music long before Urdu came into use. Braj and other contemporary languages followed much later. Poets, saints, artistes expressed themselves in these various tongues.

Braj attained the place of prominence because Sadarang and Adarang composed in this language. It is not proper to use harsh and complicated language for music, the soft and sweet language always remains a better choice. The prominence of vowels and the specific characteristic of its pronunciation made Braj the language of music during the middle ages.

Braj is the language used for the compositions of Dhrupad and Khayal by Sadarang and Adarang. These bandishes are well-ornamented with the use of figure of speech in Braj. In this way Sadarang was the master of the language mainly because of his close association with the great poets like Ghananand and Mahakavi Dev. One of his compositions in Braj goes like this:

Rag Shree
Astai:
 "Sanjh bhai aj hu nahi aaye 
  gauan ke pratipal charwal charaiya

Antara:
   Hath bansi dhar, mukut sis saje, 
   Sadarang  karu rup sarup athava"