|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
| |
 |
A musical instrument is an object constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the beginnings of human culture. The academic study of musical instruments is called organology.
Instrumental music has universal appeal, the richness and soothing tones can be appreciated without language and regional barriers. The history of Indian musical instruments can be gathered from various sources such as Literature (folk, general, music), Visual representations (paintings, sculptures, relief’s, models). Most of the Indian musical instruments remain still in use. |
|
| |
Almost every Indian God is associated with a musical instrument.
In the Ramayana and Mahabharata, there are several mention of use of musical instruments. The conch had been used during wartime to signify the beginning and end of the day, to alert the army about intruders. In olden days musical instruments are used to convey messages during wartime, and also during peace.
There are many musical instruments to be found among the sculptures existing in various temples, cave temples and Buddhist stupas in all parts of India. The therapeutic use of musical instruments had been understood from early days. |
 |
|
| |
 |
The instruments are mostly made using wood, leather, skin, clay. The making of the musical instruments requires great skill & practice in the manufacturing process, combined with some basic knowledge of music & acoustical principles.
The Indian musical instruments are classified into four major categories:
1. Tata vadya - String instruments (Chordophonous)
2. Sushira vadya - Wind instruments
3. Avanaddha vadya - Membrane covered (Membranophonous)
4. Ghana vadya - Solid percussion instruments |
|
| |
An artifact of disputed status as a musical instrument dates back as far as 67,000 years old; artifacts commonly accepted to be early flutes date back as far as about 37,000 years old.
Indian music is classified into three categories, mainly classical, western and folk. See Carnatic music and Hindustani music. The instruments are further sub-classified into the type based on the science behind the same.
The origins of Indian classical music can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas. |
 |
|
| |
 |
This classical music has one of the most complex and complete musical systems ever developed.
Like Western classical music, it divides the octave into 12 semitones of which the 7 basic notes are Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa, in order, replacing Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do. However, it uses the just intonation tuning (unlike most modern Western classical music, which uses the equal-temperament tuning system).
However, there is little mention of these esoteric beliefs in Bharat's Natyashastra, the first treatise laying down the fundamental principles of drama, dance and music.
Indian classical music is monophonic in nature and based around a single melody line, which is played over a fixed drone. The performance is based melodically on particular ragas and rhythmically on talas. |
|
| |
Instruments typically used in Hindustani music include the sitar, sarod, tanpura, bansuri, shehnai, sarangi, santoor, and tabla. Instruments typically used in Carnatic music include venu, gottuvadyam, harmonium, veena, mridangam, kanjira, ghatam and violin.
The fundamental authoritative work on the subject of Indian instruments, Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya was based on years of research carried out by Dr. Lalmani Misra. |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
