Bandish,
Cheez or
Gat is a fixed, melodic composition in
Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific
raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a
tabla or
pakhavaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a
sarangi,
violin or
harmonium. There are different ways of systematizing the parts of a composition. A bandish provides the literature element in the music, for standard structured singing. In the past many
gharanas protected their bandishes from moving out of the family with gross incoherent vocal renditions. In the realm of vocal music, it is often known as
Cheez.