Musical Instruments – UPSC – Art and Culture Notes

The crafting of music necessitates the use of musical instruments, which can be broadly categorized into four traditional groups based on their types. These instruments are crafted from diverse materials like wood, bamboo, metal, mud, and more. Each instrument within these categories boasts a unique style and technique of play.

The Origin and Evolution of Musical Instruments

• Many of these instruments have their roots in deities.
• For example, the veena and mridangam are linked to Goddess Saraswathi, Lord Krishna, and Nandi.
• This association is a key reason why musicians revere musical instruments.
• In the realm of Indian music, the emphasis is on melody and the sequential progression of musical notes.
• As a result, instruments with keys, like the piano, harmonium, and clarinet, did not gain widespread popularity in India.

Materials Utilized in Crafting Musical Instruments

• An extensive range of resources is employed in the fabrication of musical instruments, encompassing materials like wood, bamboo, animal skin, metals, and more.
• Various metals, including gold, silver, bronze, copper, and iron, find application in the construction of instruments.
• Animal skin derived from sources such as sheep, calves, buffalo, and even the hair from the tail of a horse, along with bones and teeth from certain animals like elephants, is utilized in the manufacturing process.
• Additionally, the bowls of instruments such as the tanpura, veena, and sitar are crafted from the versatile bottle gourd vegetable.

Musical Instruments Classification

Musical instruments can be categorized into the following types:

Tata Vadaya (Stringed Musical Instruments)

These are chordophones or string instruments that produce optimal sound when manually modified. Tata instruments fall into three categories:

1. Bowed: Instruments that generate sound by drawing a bow across the strings. Examples include Sarangi, Esraj, and Violin.
2. Plectral: Instruments where the strings are plucked with fingers or a plectrum made of wire or horn. Sitar, Veena, and Tamboora are notable examples.
3. Struck: Instruments played by striking with a small hammer or a pair of sticks. Gotuvadyam and Swaramandal exemplify this category.

India boasts exceptional tata artists, with the Bhangash family recognized as pioneers of Sarod in the twentieth century. Various Gharanas, such as Jaipur, Varanasi, and Etawah (Imaad Khani), are associated with Sitar playing. The Veena, an ancient and revered instrument dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, is also part of this musical instrument category.

Sushira Vadya (Wind Musical Instruments)

• This category encompasses aerophones, incorporating all wind instruments. Commonly used instruments in this category include Bansuri (flute), Shehnai, Pungi, Ninkirns, and others.
• The Shehnai, a double-reeded wind instrument with a widening tube towards the end, stands out as one of the most prevalent yet challenging instruments in this group.
• It holds the distinction of being one of India’s oldest wind instruments.
• The revered title of ‘Shehnai King‘ was rightfully bestowed upon the legendary Ustad Bismillah Khan, who elevated the Shehnai to new artistic heights through his soulful performances.
• The flute, utilized since the Vedic period, is a ubiquitous instrument found in numerous households. Originally known as Nadi or Tunava, it gained revered status when the image of Lord Krishna playing the flute became an iconic representation in Hindu imagination.
• The renowned Indian flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has significantly contributed to the popularity and artistry of the flute.

Awanad/Avanadha Vadaya (Percussion Musical Instruments)

• These instruments belong to the category of membranophone instruments as they feature an outer membrane that is struck to produce specific musical sounds.
• Additionally, they are commonly referred to as percussion instruments because they require striking to generate musical tones.
• Typically, these instruments have one or two faces covered with hide or skin.
• The Bhumi Dundubhi, or earth drum, holds the distinction of being the most ancient in this class.
• Musical instruments like Tabla, Drum, Dhol, Congo, Mridangam, and others fall under this category.
• While the Tabla is commonly used to accompany most Hindustani classical vocals, the Mridangam finds its place in accompanying Carnatic music performances.

Ghana Vadya (Solid Musical Instruments)

Instruments in this category do not necessitate prior tuning before playing and primarily serve rhythmic functions. They encompass musical instruments commonly employed in folk, tribal music, and dance, with examples like the manjira. These are non-drum percussion instruments known for producing sound when scraped, struck, or shaken.

Musical instruments falling under this classification include Manjira, Jaltarang, Kanch-tarang, Ghungroo, Ghatam, and others. The Manjira has archaeological ties to Harappan civilizations through excavations, adding historical significance to this rhythmic instrument.

Other Folk Musical Instruments

Chordophones:

• Tumbi: Played during Bhangra in Punjab.
• Ektara or Tun Tuna: A one-stringed instrument used by wandering monks.
• Dotara: A two-stringed instrument utilized by Bauls.
• Chikara: A bowed instrument found in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Dilruba or Esraj: An accompanying instrument used in Punjab and during Rabindra sangeet in eastern India.

Other Folk Musical Instruments:

• Onavillu: Made of bamboo and found in Kerala.
• Sarinda: An important tribal instrument used by Santhals in Eastern India, as well as in Rajasthan and Assam; resembling the Sarangi.

Aerophones:

• Pungi or Been: Made of dried bottle gourd and two bamboo sticks; commonly used by snake charmers.
• Algoza: A double flute, popular as a folk instrument in North West India, especially Punjab.
• Tangmuri: A folk instrument of the Khasi people in Meghalaya.
• Titti: Resembling a bagpiper and made of goat skin; crafted in South India, especially Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
• Mashak: An important folk instrument in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand; also found in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Gogona: Constructed from bamboo and used in the Bihu festival in Assam.

Membranophones:

• Ghumot: Drum-like instrument played during the Ganesh festival in Goa.
• Idakka: Similar to Damru and originates from Kerala.
• Udukai: Hourglass-shaped instrument resembling Damru, hailing from Tamil Nadu.
• Sambal: Drum-like instrument played with sticks in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.
• Tamak: Important instrument of the Santhal tribe, a two-headed drum played with drum sticks.
• Diggi: Folk drum originating from Ghariya village in Uttar Pradesh.

Idiophones:

• Chimpta: Evolved from fire tongs, utilized in Punjab.
• Gharha: Earthen pots employed in the folk music of Punjab.
• Andelu: A pair of hollow metal rings used in Burra-Katha.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Musical Instruments

1. What are the 5 musical instruments classified as?
   • Instruments are classified into five categories based on how they produce sound: Idiophones, Membranophones, Chordophones, Aerophones, and Electrophones.
2. How are musical instruments traditionally classified in India?
   • In India, musical instruments have traditionally been classified into four groups according to the Natya Shastra: Avanaddha Vadya (membranophones), Ghan Vadya (idiophones), Sushir Vadya (aerophones), and Tat Vadya (chordophones).
3. Which instrument is known as the “King of Instruments”?
   • The piano is often referred to as the “King of Instruments” due to its remarkable tonal range and versatility.
4. What are the three main types of musical instruments?
   • Musical instruments are broadly categorized into three types: Stringed instruments, Percussion or membrane instruments, and Wind instruments.
5. What is the oldest instrument in India?
   • The Veena is considered the oldest musical instrument in India. It symbolizes the Indian ethos and holds sociological and cultural significance.
6. Which Indian instrument is considered the most challenging to play?
   • The tabla is often considered the most challenging Indian musical instrument. It consists of a pair of small drums and mastering its intricate rhythms and techniques requires a high level of skill and practice.