The past and the present chronotope of the pāncai bājā repertoire in Nepal

This study attempts to shed light on the changing dynamics of the pāncai bājā from past to present, particularly with regard to performance occasions, performing communities, ritual functions, and professional practice. The study draws on Bakhtin’s theory of the chronotope in literature and cultural performance, Alan P. Merriam’s anthropological approach to music studies, and Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus as analytical frameworks in examining the pāncai bājā musical repertoire. Together, these approaches provide a systematic theoretical framework. In the past, when Nepali society was predominantly agrarian and traditional, Damain community performed the pāncai bājā repertoire professionally on special occasions and rituals. However, today the Damain community has largely shifted to other occupations. Internal migration, access to education opportunities, modernization, foreign employment opportunities and declining social prestige are among the reasons behind their profession shift. These days, commercially motivated so-called upper caste people form pāncai bājā bands in urban areas. As a result, the Damain community is gradually losing control over this musical heritage. In the course of studying the chronotope of pāncai bājā tradition, we have employed a mixed-methods approach, including interviews with different respondents and key informants. Purposive sampling with observation and content analysis are other methods applied in this research. Moreover, the study is based on extensive library and archival research on the pāncai bājā tradition. The term pancai bājā refers to a traditional Nepali mixed ensemble consisting of shawms, kettledrums, cymbals, natural trumpets and drum traditionally played by the Damain community. Keywords: chronotope, habitus, pāncai bājā, repertoire, Damain community, ensemble For citation: Niroula, D. R., Dahal, B. P., & Baral, C. R. (2026). The past and the present chronotope of the pāncai bājā repertoire in Nepal. Contemporary Musicology, 10(2), 154–190. https://doi.org/10.56620/2587-9731-2026-2-154-190

Chronotope · Habitus · musical repertoire · occupational shift · professional musicians · ritual music · shawm · social prestige · timpani · Urbanization · Diverse Musicological Studies · Music History and Culture · Musicology and Musical Analysis

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