At the Heart of Indian Music

The word Tanpura transliterates itself into musical phrase (tana) and complete (pura) - thus, tanpura is that which completes the music. It has a monotonous drone that serves as the basis for the musicians flight of imagination. It is almost always used as an accompaniment. When a musician sings, tanpura keeps them grounded. It is as if the musician's voice is cradled in the womb of tanpura's drone.

Rudra Veena is an important tantri vadya (see introduction at the top). It is the instrument that goddess of learning and music, Saraswati, carries on her. Lord Shiva is supposed to have fashioned this instrument himself and shaped it inspired by goddess Parvati's figure. As is clear with the associated legends, it is one of the oldest instruments and is rarely played today. I last heard it played by Ustad Asad Ali Khan at IIT, Kanpur (SPIC MACAY - Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth - had organised the show). The sound it emits is deep and fills you up.

A variation of the Veena is the Vichitra Veena.
'Vichitra' means strange. One look at the music instrument and you know why it is called so. It looks similar to the Rudra Veena but can be recognized by the distinctive peacock at one end. It is played placed on the ground - unlike the Rudra Veena - and is difficult to play since the elbows have no support. As a result it is less preferred and have very few exponents.

Sitar is perhaps the most well-known Indian music instrument around the world, courtesy Ravi Shankar (George Harrison of Beatles was his one time disciple), and now his daughter, Anushka Shankar. The sitar is said to have silvery sweetness. Many Hindi film songs are heavily based on Sitar being played in the background.

Sarod is SItar's cousin. Sarod has a more rounded, heavier sound compared to Sitar. No wonder there is always a rivalry between Sitar players and Sarod player. Amjad Ali Khan is the chief exponent of Sarod. Personally, I prefer Sarod to Sitar.

Sarangi is a very unique instrument in that it is a stringed instrument that is played with a bow (like a violin). Sarangi's continuous tone is considered to come nearest to human voice.

Santoor has a tripping water like sound. One of the few instruments that became accepted as an instrument for classical music only in the last generation. Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, who is still alive, is responsible in elevating this instrument's status from an instrument used by folk singers in Kashmir to an instrument capable of delicate and complex ragas of Hindustani Classical music.

The instrument of lord Krishna, Bansuri is a single hollow shaft of bamboo that originally had 6 holes, but now has 7 holes. Bansuri, along with Sitar, is another instrument that finds its place in numerous Hindi film songs. Pandit Pannalal Ghosh is solely responsible for elevating the status of Bansuri from a pastoral instrument to a classical music instrument. Pandit Hari prasad Chaurasia made Bansuri world famous.

Tabla needs no introduction. Western pop music seems to have adopted Tabla in a big way. Tabla became world famous and owes its popularity to Ustad Zakir Hussain's look as much as it does to his phenomenal skills. The instrument is actually a pair of drums played together. The smaller drum played by the right hand has a light, clear sound, while that played by the left hand, has a rounder, heavier sound.

Pakhawaj is a two-faced drum, held parallel to the ground. It has a heavier, deeper sound. The right face is marked by a black inky paste, while the left is covered with a paste of dough. Pakhawa is supposed to generating masculine sounds.

Sehnai is associated with all things auspicious. It is played in all marriages. Thus, the classical music finds its way into real life. It has a strident sound that verges on harshness. Ustad Bismillah Khan made sehnai world famous.