The Instruments

In Indian music, instruments generally aim to imitate the spontaneous range and appeal of the voice. In instrumental concerts, there is generally a main instrument, an accompanying instrument, and percussion instrument and the tanpura that provides the background drone. 

Sitar

Stringed instruments include the sitar, popularised in the West by Ravi Shankar. Today, one of the most gifted of the younger generation is Purbayan Chatterjee, whose music, inspired by the legendary Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, is enhanced by a contemporary feel.

Purbayan Chatterjee on sitar, performing with Kala Ramanath on violin at the Théâtre de la Ville, 2006

Sarod

The sarod produces a sparkling, liquid, bass sound. It has a fretless fingerboard that is covered with a polished steel plate that enables the musician to play spectacular meends or glides between the notes. Ustad Ali Akbar Khan brought the instrument to the West, and his student Pandit Tejendra Majumdar is one of the finest exponents of the instruments in this generation.

Tejendra Majumdar (sarod) with fellow virtuso players Shujaat Khan (sitar) and Subhankar Banerjee (tablas) at the Théâtre de la Ville, Paris in 2006

Santoor

The santoor, although ancient, was only brought into Indian classical music in recent decades. The credit goes to Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. The instrument, which is played by striking light wooden mallets on the trapezoid-shaped 100-string dulcimer, is also played by his son and disciple, Rahul Sharma. He continues the tradition while at the same time bringing in influences from beyond India.

Rahul Sharma performing with Pandit Bhawani Shankar and Aditya Kalyanpur

Bansuri

The Indian flute, the venu or bansuri, is a simple bamboo flute with holes. Like the santoor, it is ancient and it too has only recently risen to the status of a concert instrument. The venu or bansuri is more than a musical instrument. It has cultural and religious significance as it is the instrument associated with Lord Krishna who is often depicted playing it. While Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is the elder statesman of the Indian flute in Hindustani music, his student Rupak Kulkarni is today an outstanding exponent of the Maihar gharana. And from the southern tradition Shashank Subramanium is a leading classical Carnatic flautist.

Bansuri flute virtuoso Pandit Hariprasad Charausia performing live

Violin

The violin is used as both the main or accompanying instrument in Carnatic performances. The playing technique is quite different from the West. Instead of being held under the chin, the musician props it between the shoulder and the foot to give the instrument greater stability while playing. Two leading exponents of the instrument are the brothers, Ganesh and Kumaresh who combine Indian classicism with more contemporary styles.

Percussion

On the percussion side, the pakhawaj drum, used in dhrupad performances, produces a deep, heavy, loud sound. The tabla, used in most Hindustani concerts, is a set of two drums. The larger bayan, which is generally made of metal, provides the bass, while the dayan, made of wood, provides the sparkling clear notes. Arguably the premier tabla maestro of his generation in authentic classical Indian music is Pandit Kumar Bose of the Benaras gharana. In Carnatic concerts rhythm is normally provided by the mridangam. It looks a bit like the pakhawaj, but the sound is higher pitched.

Accompanying instruments in Hindustani music include the sarangi, which is often considered the instrument closest to the human voice. In recent years, the harmonium has become popular. And throughout Indian classical music the tanpura (North India) or tambura (South India) provides the harmonic resonance as a backdrop to the music. The tanpura does not take part in the melodic part of the music but it supports and sustains the melody by providing a colourful and dynamic harmonic field based on one precise tone, the basic or key note of the music.

Kulbir Natt

www.darbar.org.uk

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