Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

MUSIC

INSTRUMENTS Air Bellowed

SOLIDS

CLASSIFICATION

1. : The aid to music teachers and learners — the box with many keys is staging a come back. It cannot pro- duce nuances. The Indian harmonium is a reed keyboard instrument which was brought to India from the West by traders and mission- aries. It has been the subject of much contro- versy and was at one time banned from the music concerts of All India Radio. While Karnatak musicians still eschew it, it has be- come popular as an accompaniment in Hin- dustani music where the sustained notes which the harmonium produces are frequent. Those opposed to the harmonium argue that with its fixed keyboard it cannot produce the fine nuances which are characteristic of Indian music. Bowed type of Instruments Instruments of strings that are played usu- ally with a bow are known as 'vitata vadya'. The instruments Chikara, Sarinda, Sarangi, Esaraja, Dilruba, Tausa, Chandra-saranga and also Violin and Viola come under this group. Sarinda and Chikara of modern Uttar Pradesh, Dada of Punjab and Chara tara of Rajasthan are played with a bow. They are owned by wandering minstrels or by aborigi- nals or rural people of India. Dilaruba : Similar to Esaraja in its struc- ture. It is also hollow from inside and parched with hide. The bridges are made of horn, bone or ivory, which is placed on the hide on a leather strap over which all the six main strings are arranged while the 22 side strings pass underneath the frets and they are fastened to wooden pegs on the right side of the instru- ment just like Esaraja. The danda or the stem of the instrument serves the purpose of the finger board and contains 19 elliptical metal frets of brass, steel or silver tied to the danda by means of a silken cord. Taus : belongs to category of Esaraja and Dilaruba. The shape of this instrument is just like a peacock that is why it is known as Taus. Its long tail serves the purpose of the finger- board of the instrument, on which nineteen metal frets, eliptical in shape are tied with cotton or silken cord. The lower position is covered with hide. It is also played seated with a bow.. Manora Bahara : It is the largest size of the modem Esaraja. It is almost four feet long. This rare type is available only in Bengal. Its use is restricted to concerts. It is played seated on a low stool and the instrument is rested on the floor in front of the performer. Harmonium

1. Tata vaadyas, Chordophones or stringed instruments like the veena, violin, sitar, sarod, surbahaar, sarangi, tambura & gotu vaadyam. 2. Sushira vaadyas, aerophones or wind instruments like flute, baansuree, clarionet, saxophone, naagaswaram, shehnai, harmo- nium, mukhaveena. 3. Avanaddha vaadyas, membrano- phones or generally percussion instruments such as mridangam, dholak, thablaa, pakha- waaj, morching, main kanjira and others. 4. Ghana vaadyas, idiophones and auto- phones like jaalraa, thaalam (cymbals), j alatharang, ghatam and a few others. SHRUTI 1. Tamboora : (Tamboori, Thaanpooraa) The Shruthi — providing instrument re- splendent with its reenkaara or jhenkaara vibrations usually tuned to middle Pa, higher Sa, higher Sa and Lower Sa is the most important basis for any concert. The tambura is played as a background drone with vocal and instrumental music. The body of the tambura is similar to that of the veena without any fret in the stem which has only four strings. Often two tamburas are used in the north. The tambura determines the key of the singer. In the south, it is tuned to Madhyama shruthi to present ragas like Naadanaamakriya, Jhunjhoothi, Navaroj, Saindhavee, Punnaagavaraali, Kuranji, Thar- anginee, Subhaashinee and often for Sindhu bhairavi, Yamunaakalyanee, Jonpuree and Manirangu. The tamboora used in South India is smaller in size than the one used in the north. The bridge of the instrument is wide and is made of ivory, horn, camel bone or hard wood. It has a special curvature. A very important part of the tamboora is the thread of cotton, wool or silk inserted between the bridge and the strings. This thread, known as the jeevam or juari, when placed in the correct position and drawn correctly, imparts an extraordinary richness to the tone of the tamboora. 2. Electronic Tamboora : An adjustable electronic gadget with four coarse fine con- trols and tempo and tone controls (ac and battery operated) 3. Shruti Box : A diminutive harmonium wtih only a few selected, needed keys for aadhaara shruti or key-pitch (substitute for Thamboora).

Gilabada : Commonly used by tribes of Andhra Pradesh'. It is a dried fruit and a few of them are tied together and shaken in rhythm. Kolu or Danda : Stick instruments, the best known examples are from Gujarat and South India. Two sticks are held in each hand and struck together to produce sound. Seemu : Found in north-eastern provinces is a large gong with a small boss (convex bulge) at the centre. The plate is held in hand hanging by a thread pass- ing through a pair of holes, and beaten with a stick

Chimta : It is a

jingle

with

small

platelets seen in various

parts of north India. It isan

iron fork, a metre

long, on the arms of which are fixed loosely sets

of small discs or brass. The instrument is shaken

or beaten against the palm rhythmically to the

accompaniment of bhajans, folk songs etc.

Cymbals : These are con- vex plates. The names are many. Jalra, Jhallari, Kar- tal, tali, talam, elattalam, kushittalam are smaller

types while larger ones are jhanj, Jhallari, bharat- talam, bortal etc. Used by Harikatha artistes, de- votional congregations etc.

Morsing (Morching): The comparatively rare metallic twang-producing instrument is a fine accompaniment played by keeping it stuck between the teeth;- (Also called Jewish harp).

A of ridget variety also called jatra, it is of about 5 cm diameter. These are made of bronze or brass. Cymbal