RMIM Archive Article "144".
From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian
#
# RMIM Archives..
# Subject: Instruments in Indian Music
# Introduction to the Music of India
# Posted by: uusharma@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Vandana Sharma)
#
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Instruments in Indian Music
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SITAR
Sitar is the most popular stringed instrument of India
and has been in use for about 700 years. It is
fashioned from a seasoned gourd and teakwood and has
twenty mental frets with six or seven playing strings
and nineteen sympathetic strings below. It is played
with a plectrum worn on the finger. Sitar has a long
and complex heritage; its origin goes back to the
ancient Veena. In the 13th century, Amir Khusru, in
order to make the instrument more flexible, reversed
the order of the strings and made the frets moveable.
Ravi Shankar, the great musician-artist brought changes
and a new perspective.
SAROD
Sarod is another popular stringed instrument. The body
is carved from a single piece of well-seasoned teakwood
and the belly covered with goat skin. There are four
main strings, six rhythm and drone strings and fifteen
sympathetic strings, all made of metal. These are
played by striking with a plectrum made of a coconut
shell. The Sarod has no frets. Sarod as been found in
carvings of the 1st century in Champa temple and also
in paintings in the Ajanta caves. It also has a simi-
larity with the Rabab of Afghanistan and Kashmir. The
instrument was modified by Amir Khusru in the 13th cen-
tury. A definite change was made by Ustad Ali Akbar
Khan in shape of the instrument for improving the tonal
quality.
SARANGI
The name derives from Sau Rangi meaning 100 colours.
Sarangi is played with a bow and has four main strings
and as many as forty resonant strings. It is generally
used to accompany singers but can also be a solo
instrument.
TANPURA
Tanpura is a four or five stringed instrument which
gives the essential drone background to all Indian
music.
ESRAJ
Esraj is played with a bow and has many strings. It is
one of the major instruments of North India.
SANTOOR
Santoor is a North Indian instrument originating from
Kashmir. It has more than a hundred strings which run
across a hollow rectangular box and the strings are
struck by a pair of slim carved walnut mallets.
VICITRA VEENA
Vichitra Veena is a comparatively recent addition to
the Veena family. It is a fretless stringed instrument
with four main strings, three drone and rhythm strings
and eleven to thirteen resonating strings. The strings
are plucked by a plectrum on the index or middle finger
of the right hand.
VIOLIN
Violin was introduced to India about 300 years ago and
is a very important string instrument in the South of
India. It is played in a sitting position and is held
between the right foot and the left shoulder.
TABLA
Tabla is the overall term for two drums, which are
played as accompaniment to North Indian music and
dance. The musician uses the base of the palm as well
as the fingers to produce great variations in sounds.
The right hand drum is tuned to the tonic dominant or
sub-dominant and the left-hand drum acts as the base.
PAKHAWAJ
Pakhawaj is a long bodied wooden drum with both ends
covered in skin and is the most traditional drum of
North India. Played horizontally with the fingers and
palms of both hands, the right hand surface is tuned to
the pitch required and the left hand surface provides
the base.
MRIDANGAM
Mridangam is similar in appearance to the Pakhawaj but
the ends have a different texture. It is the most used
drum in South Indian music.
DHOLAK
Dholak is a side drum, cylindrical in shape, bored out
of solid wood. Its pitch is variable and is an essen-
tial accompaniment for folk music of North India.
JAL TARANG
Jal Tarang is essentially a water-xylophone. It is
made up of a series of china bowls of varying sizes and
they are filled with varying levels of water. These
are then played with two light sticks.
PUNG
Pung is a long bodied drum with both ends covered in
skin and plays an important role in Manipuri dancing
when it is played by men and women, either in a sitting
position or standing position.
FLUTE
Flute is found in every part of India, carved from
bamboo it is made in every possible size. It is usu-
ally played in a vertical position.
SHEHNAI
Shehnai is a double reeded wind instrument with a
widening tube towards the lower end. There are eight
or nine holes, the upper seven for playing, the lower
ones for tuning. The Shehnai is considered auspicious
and is played on all festive occasions in India.
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From the RMIM Article Archive maintained by Satish Subramanian