Essay name: Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature
Author:
S. Karthick Raj KMoundinya
Affiliation: University of Madras / Department of Sanskrit
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.
Chapter 4 - A comparative study of the references to Musical Instruments
5 (of 39)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Farmer in his book titled 'Meccan Musical Instruments' published
by the Adyar Library says that Persian culture had its own contribution
to various musical instruments. The General name for Tambourine is
Duff which was a favorite instrument of women. It has two types
rectangular and round. Round form of Tambourine without any jingles
is the only one approved by the Prophet.
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The round Tambourine with jingles was known as Tar. Ladies, at
festivities, along with another tambourine called Tabla, popularly used
tar. Csanun was another drum akin to Tabla. Darabukka, Darbuka and
Kabir
Dirbakki were other names for Tabla. Kabr was another percussion
instrument that was widely used. Martial instruments were also
prevalent in the Arabian culture. They made use of a Kettledrum called
Naqqara. This drum was used for religious purposes also according to
Islam.
4.2 Tamil Music
Tamil music is considered one of the most ancient music systems
in the world. This is a very special system of music, characteristic and
specific to the Tamil people. The historical references to the structure of
music, musical instruments, method of singing, the circumstances under
which the music developed, etc have been cited in very ancient texts that
date back to as early as the 1st and 2nd century AD.
