Like many of the other
reflections of
George that
are mentioned in Underside this bit of relfection
is focusing on George's love of classical Indian
Insturments, featuring the George's favorite
the Sitar
Stringed Insrtuments
All infromation for all instruments
is from the Concert Program for
George Harrison's 74 tour.
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The Ektara is a rhythmic accompaniment to devotional songs. In the instrument illustrated, pitch is changed by tension added the bamboo strips attached to each side of the base.
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The Santoor is a delicate Kashmiri
instrument with it's origins in Persia. Over a hundred strings run over
the hollow retangular wooden box,and is played with walnut mallets |
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The Sarangi traditionaly used to accompany vocals. Made with a wooden neck and a skin belly. The main strings are bowed and up to 40 resignate below the bridge.
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The Sarod or other instruments simliar to it
have appeared in in paintings from the first century. The hollow body
is carved from an entire piece of seasoned teak, and has a goat skin
belly. Four main strings six drone and rhythim, and fifteen sympathetic
strings run along the un-fretted metal fingerboard. A plectrum of
coconut shell is used in the right hand |
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The Sitar's origins go back to the ancient veena. In the 13th Century the order of the stirngs were reversed and the bridges were made to be moveable. 4 main strings run over the bridges and 11-13 sympathetic strings are below. There are six rythim strings. A wire plectrum is worn on the index finger of the right hand.
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The Swaramandal is a small hand held harp with coiled wire strings that are tuned with induvidual pegs. Vary similar to the autoharp or zither, and is used to accompany vocals.
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The Tanpura has a hypnotic drone that is
heard in all Indian Classical Music. I would guess it's like a Bass in
regular classical music. There are four to six strings that run along
the long wooden neck to the base which is often made out of a guord or
wood, and has no frets |
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The Vichitra Veena has a hollow wooden body
that has two detachable gourds on each end. Four main strings are
stopped by an egg piece of glass, three drone and rhythm strings, and
thirteen sympathetic which is a recnt addition. A wire plectrum is worn
on the middle and the index fingers. |
Wind Insrtument
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The Shahnai is a double reeded instrument similar to the Oboe. Can be present in any occasions, but mainly used in rights of passage.
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Percussion Insrtuments
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The Damaru is an hour glass
shaped drum that was believed to used by Lord Shive when dancing the
universer into existance. Vellum heads tied to hoops on both sides and
is then tightend by ropes, when pressed the pitch will change. |
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The Khartal are wooden clappers with brass jingles. Play with one hand between the forefingers and the thumb.
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The Mirdangam is a preimer classical drum in
Sounthern India. It's made with a wooden barrel shaped body and vellum
heads. Paste is used to lower the pitch on the left sided head. |
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The Pakhawaj is a long bodied wooden drum both heads are covered with skin, The drum is often accompanying Dhrupad and Dhamar styles of singing.
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The Tabla are two small drums that are
mostly used in Norther India. The right handed drum is the Tabla and
the left is Bayan. The Tabla has a wooden base, and the head it tuned
with a hammer. The left Bayan has a metal base the surface is struck
with the base of the palm, and fingers. the pitch is adjusted by
pressure at of the palm |
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Jal Tarang, is a derived from the words Jal
(water bowl) and Tarang which means waves of sound. There are other
different types of Tarangs, this one as explained in the name comes
from the different sizes of bowls,and amounts of water in each bowl. |
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