Volume 4

Description

The Rabab is an Afghani plucked stringed instrument widely used in Kashmir at present. It resembles the human voice with its long-lasting sound.

The Mandolin belongs to the lute family. It has a body with either a teardrop-shaped soundboard or one which is essentially oval in shape with sound holes of varying shapes.

A variant of the Banjo, the Tenor Banjo has either 17 or 19 frets. It is best known for its ability to mark the rhythm.

The Ravan Hattha is a type of fiddle used in singing Rajasthani folk ballads. Its wires are made of horse tail. Its bow, also called the Dani, is carved off the Acacia tree.

Invented in 1825, the Surbahar (also known as bass sitar) is a plucked string instrument. It is related to the better-known sitar but has a lower tone.

The Violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest and highest-pitched member of the violin family.

The Ektara is a simple instrument made of one string, which can be made to give a range of tones by applying pressure at various points along the neck.

The Swarmandal is a stringed instrument similar to the Autoharp or Zither in many respects. It measures from 24 to 30 inches in length and 12 to 15 inches in width.

Originated in 1300 AD, the Khuang is a Mizo indigenous instrument made of hollow tree, wrapped on both sides with animal skin. Supposedly, the Mizo received it from China.

The Halgi consists of animal skin framed on metal and two wooden sticks. The frame is held in one hand along with one stick while the other is used for striking on the skin.

The Pung is a long bodied drum with both ends covered in cow skin. It plays an important role in Manipuri dancing. It is more than 1,000 years old.

The Manipuri Dhol is often used to provide beat to Manipuri folk dances. Cow skin is used for making both the sides and the ropes of the dhol.

The Nishan is a rhythm instrument from Sambalpur (Orissa) and is played with two sticks called Chimta. It is made out of iron sheets with cow skin covering the sides.

The Bihu Dhol is a percussion instrument played in the famous Assamese dance, Bihu.

Made of a wooden frame and goat skin, the Daphli is another percussion instrument from Rajasthan. When playing, applying pressure on the skin changes the pitch.

The Khartaal comprises two similar shaped wooden pieces and is approximately 8 to 12 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. It is the Rajasthani version of the Spanish Castanets.

The Eddaka is an hourglass-shaped South Indian instrument. Its two sides are made of goat skin loosely tied up by ropes. The ropes are pulled simultaneously while hitting.

The Khol is a terracotta drum used in northern & eastern India for accompaniment of devotional music. Both its sides are covered with naturally dead cow/goat skin.

These (cow) Bells are a series of copper bells stringed vertically. The sound is produced via hitting the Bells with a wooden stick.

Used by the Pathans, the Surnaii is similar to an oboe. It is a reed instrument with a conical body made of wood or horn, with seven holes above and one below.

The Tutari is a begul-like instrument from Maharashtra. It is a wind instrument curved like an elephant’s trunk, earlier used to alert the entire kingdom of the King’s arrival.

The Pepa is a flute-like musical instrument used in traditional Assamese music. It is usually built of a very short stem made from thin bamboo/cane/reed.

The Been is used by snake charmers and is made of the stone apple fruit. It has two tubes. One of them plays a constant note while the other belts melodies.

Algozay is a wooden beaked double-flute traditionally played by goat herders in Punjab, India/Pakistan. One flute is kept as the drone, the other creating the melody.

The Harmonium is a small organ made in wood, which is pumped with one hand and played with the other. It is the main instrument used for accompaniment.

The Manjeera or Manjira, also known as Tala, are a small pair of cymbals that are played with the hands to accompany folk or devotional music.

The Tanpura is a drone stringed instrument, similar in sound to a Sitar being played without fretting any notes. This drone accompanies most classical concerts.