Musically Classical

  • Meenu Thakur Sankalp
  • India
  • Dec 12, 2014

 In 1914, two eminent musicologists, Erich Moritz von Hornbostal from Austria and his German-American friend Curt Sachs, studied musical instruments and classified them on the basis of the vibrations and sounds produced, irrespective of an instrument’s size and shape. The Hornbostal-Sachs system grouped these instruments into four categories: String, Wind, Drums and Percussion (non-Drums). However, never would these musical geniuses have imagined that their classification would assume such a diverse identity as that seen in India – the Wikipedia page on Indian Classical (musical) Instruments lists as many as 130 major ones. Though all these musical instruments have their own identity, many of them are inalienable accompaniments to Classical Dance; it is impossible to imagine Classical Dance without music. It is impossible to rank, sort or assign a place, by order of merit, to these Instruments, and so they are listed as they come to mind (the names of Dances that they are integral and intrinsic to, are in brackets):

 
Saraswati Veena 
(Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam): 
Of the many Veenas played in India, the Saraswati Veena, as the name suggests, depicts the Hindu Goddess of Learning, Saraswati, who is depicted with the Veena in her hand. This stringed instrument is played along with Carnatic Music. It is played sitting cross-legged, with the round block of wood resting on the player’s thigh. The left hand plays on the frets, while the right manipulates the strings. The notes are increased/heightened by the flicking of the fingers.

 
Mridangam 
(Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam): 
It is an essential accompaniment to South Indian Classical Dances. Mridangam is a percussion instrument that is integral to Carnatic Music. The instrument consists of one main drum that is made of a single piece of hollow wood. The Mridangam player sits cross-legged on the ground and plays with both hands…and on both sides.

 
Venu
(Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam): 
It is one of the most sought-after instruments in Carnatic Music. Venu is a wind instrument made out of bamboo; it is a ‘transverse’ flute. It is also known as the ‘Bansuri’ (in North India) – though the Venu has 8 holes on its surface, compared to six on the Bansuri. The fingers of the player’s hands are used to open and close these holes, while blowing into it. The Venu sounds like a melodious whistle.

 

Surpeti/Shruti Box 
(Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam):
It is a drone instrument that is used in Carnatic Music to play a melody. Though it is shaped in the form of a harmonium, it has no keys. The electronic version of the Surpeti is fast replacing the manual one.
 
 
Chenda (Kathakali): 
It is also played as an accompaniment to Koodiyattam in Kerala and Tenku Thittu in Karnataka. Chenda is a percussion instrument in the form of a two-feet cylindrical drum hung in a vertical direction. It is made of animal skin. The drummer strikes the top of the drum with two sticks. 

 
Idakka (Kathakali): 
Shaped in the form of an hourglass, the Idakka is a percussion instrument that closely resembles the Damuru (drum). It is played with a stick. Idakka is strung over the shoulder, hanging from left to right, while the tape on the instrument is manipulated by the left hand - while the right hand beats the stick on the surface. Divinity is associated with the instrument, as Idakka is played in the temples of Kerala to welcome the Gods. 

 
Pena (Manipuri):
It is popular in many states of North-East India, and is integral to its folk dances. Pena is a stringed instrument; it resembles the Western Indian instrument, ‘Ravanhasta’. Pena is a lute made of bamboo, which is attached at the end to a half coconut shell. The body of the instrument is called the ‘Penamasa’, and the bow is called the Pena ‘Cheijing’. 

 
Sarangi (Kathak): 
It is a bowed string instrument that is used in Hindustani Classical Music. Sarangi normally has four main strings, with no fret or a fingerboard. It is a very rare and difficult instrument to play - qualities that have unfortunately hastened the decline of the instrument. 

 
Tabla (Kathak): 
This is another instrument that needs no introduction. The Tabla is a pair of drums, one smaller than the other. The right-hand side drum is made of wood while the left one is made of metal. The playing surface of the Tabla has a black circle, which resonates like a bell when tapped. It is said that the Tabla has evolved from the Pakhawaj (a barrel type drum). The movement of the fingers and the palms on the surface of the Tabla creates different sounds.

 
Sitar (Odissi, Kathak):
It is an instrument that needs no introduction. Sitar is perhaps the most popular plucked string instrument in India. The Mughals modified the original instrument and named it after Setar (an instrument of Persian origin). It is long necked and, like the Saraswati Veena, is played with both hands - one of them plucks the strings while the other manipulates the frets. The Sitar is played upright, at an angle of 60-70 degrees from the ground. The Sitar is not commonly used in Folk and Carnatic Music

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