Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature
by S. Karthick Raj KMoundinya | 2008 | 66,229 words
The essay studies the Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature and its relationship with the South Indian musical tradition. The study emphasizes the universal appeal of music and documents how it pervades various aspects of life, art, literature, painting, and sculpture. The thesis further examines the evolution of musical instruments from ancie...
Classification of Indian Musical instruments
The Indian musical instruments are classified into four major categories: Tata Vadya, Susira Vadya, Avanaddha Vadya & Ghana Vadya. Tata Vadya Susira Vadya String instruments (Chordopohnes) Wind instruments (Aerophones) Avanaddha Vadya Membrane covered (Membranophones) Solid instruments (Idiophones) Ghana Vadya The instruments are mostly made using wood, leather, skin and clay. The making of the musical instruments requires great skill & practice in the manufacturing process, combined with some basic knowledge of music & acoustical principles. were The conch had been used during wartime to signify the beginning and end of the day, to alert the army about intruders. Drums used to convey messages not only during wartime, but also during peace. There is one more classification of musical instruments as � SRUTI VADYAS � LAYA VADYAS those that maintain basic tune - those that keep the beat � SANGITA VADYAS - those that emanate musical tunes Musical instruments may again be classified thus: � TEMPLE INSTRUMENTS � MARTIAL INSTRUMENTS, � FOLK INSTRUMENTS. << * Example for these classifications: SRUTI VADYAS LAYA VADYAS SANGITA VADYAS Tambura, Ottu etc. Mrdanga, Kanjira, Ghatametc. Vina, Violin, Flute, Nadasvaram etc.
64 TEMPLE INSTRUMENTS such as Horns, trumpets, Mukha Vina, Conch, Bhuri, Udal, Udukkai, Pambai, etc. MARTIAL INSTRUMENTS such as Dundubhi, Bheri, Parai, Tarai, etc. FOLK INSTRUMENTS such as Ektar, tutari, pot-drum, iron cymbals, tamuku, (Pataha) etc. In Tamilnadu, percussion instruments like Udukkai, Davandai, Pambai, Suryapirai and Chandrapirai are quite popular. We also have a few types of secondary Musical instruments such as: � Semakkalam � Jalra � Brahmatalam � Chipla & Kartal � Silambu Salangai/Gejju/Kinkini Bell of mendicants Pair of metal cymbals also known as Brihat talam are varieties of Tala Cymbals anklet with Jingling, bells. another variety of anklets. By their purpose, Musical Instruments can also be classified as: � Gitanuga accompaniment for singing � Nrtyanuga Suska accompaniment for dance solo variety We have seen that instruments can be classified as Idiophones, Membrophones, Chordophones, Aerophones and Electrophones. Some examples can be given for these classifications.
65 IDIOPHONES Struck Made of Wood or other organic Made of Metal or material Xylophone slit drum Inorganic Triangle, bells, gong Struck Rhythmic sticks (Kolattam) Castanets Cymbals together (Ciplakattai) Shaken Rattles (Kilukiluppai) Scraped Scrapers Plucked Jew's harp Jingle bells Morsing MEMBRANOPHONES Made of Wood or other organic Made of Metal or Inorganic material Struck Drums - bowl drums Tubular drums Frame drums Shaken Rattles drum Rubbed Friction drums Pottery drums Pancamukha Vadya Kanjira Gna & Gudu Guduppai Urumi Melam Bum Bum Madu Melam Tandhi Panai Plucked Stringed drums On the basis of their shape the percussion varieties can be classified thus: I. STRUCK TYPE i. Hour Glass shaped eg. Damaru ii. Rim type eg. Kanjira iii. Pitcher type eg. Ghatam iv. Bowl type eg. Nagara v. Cylindrical type eg. dhol II. FRICTION TYPE eg. Urumi Melam III. PLUCKING TYPE eg. Tandhi Panai
99 66 On the basis of position of play, shape and structure, there are three varieties: URDHVAKA, ANKYA AND ALINGYA Urdhvaka Vertical drums like Cenda, Tabla and Bangos etc. Ankya Held horizontally and etc. Alingya played Mrdanga, dolak, Pakhavaj and Tavil Drums embraced and played, also drums held in one hand played with another. For example, Ghatam is an excellent example for Alingya type instrument. Tambattam, Pataha, Kanjira are instruments that are held in one hand and played upon. The classical or post-classical period featured drums with complex designs, like the puskara, bhanda, panava, and mrdanga. The ancient dundubhi became a prototype for these drums, as well as, the Bhanda Vadya, the modern pakhawaj and the khol. The Puskara consisted of three drums, two horizontal and one leaning drum. They tuned these drums to defined pitches (gandhara, Sadja, and Pancama -- the tones considered as the primal ones of the scales). The Bhanda Vadya, Mrdanga, and the Pakhawaj all have similar designs. Played horizontally, these barrel shaped (almost cylindrical) drums, feature a tuned multi-layered composite membranes covering both ends (connected by leather straps).
* haritakyakrtistvan �kyo yavamadhyastayordhvakah| 3416/02/22/8 Jitsu 3112-41 21-4 FT: || (Natya'sistra - Chapter XXXIII - 293) The Drums are of three shapes. In shape they are like Haritaki (myrobalan fruit), (barby) and go puccha (comic tail) and the first is to be placed on the lap, the second to be placed facing upwards and the third to be tred to the warst. yava