Ekatantri, String Instrument, Indian Musical Instruments
Ekatantri is one of the oldest string instruments of India which has been described in great detail and given much importance in the ancient Indian texts. The Ekatantri is a single-stringed instrument.
|
|
Ekatantri, also referred to by Bharata as the Ghoshaka, is one of the most ancient string instruments of India. It is like a one-stringed tubular zither which succeeded the Alapina Veena. The instrument finds extensive depiction in ancient Indian sculptures as well as the literary works. Prominent examples of these include the Nanyadeva's Sarasvati Hridyalankara (eleventh century) which refers to it as the Brahma-Veena, Haripala's, Sangeeta Sudhakara (twelfth century) and Sarangadeva's Sangita-Ratnakara (thirteenth century). As Nanyadeva remarks, the minutest Sruti differences can be obtained on this instrument and "Goddess Saraswati herself dwells in the Ekatantri". Sarangadeva calls it the original Veena. These remarks are significant, for they indicate the emergence of the drone and the fingerboard instruments.
Structure of Ekatantri
The Ekatantri was a long bamboo tube on which was tied a single string, and hence the name. It had a single gourd resonator. The bridge seems to have been wide and here we meet the early use of the Jeeva, so common in the modern Tambura. The gourd was held against the chest and the string was plucked at the lower end. The melody was produced by moving a short bamboo piece, Kamrika, on the string. Obviously fine pitch changes were produced by sliding the Kamrika and/or altering its pressure on the string. Variations in pitch were obtained by descending a little wooden rod, held in the left hand of the musician, along the gut string. It is evident that the Ekatantri evolved out of instruments like the Gintarg and later developed into the Vichitra Veena and the Gottu Vadyam of today.
The Ekatantri Veena was held in great importance till the end of the 18th century. Due to the technique of its playing, it was the ideal instrument used for Alaap.
This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com
(Last Updated on : 30-03-2017)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Music
|
|
|
• | Folk Music of Northern India Folk Music of Northern India showcases the diverse cultural heritage of India. A variety of songs have been composed in this genre of music that narrates numerous themes.
| | • | Types of Odissi Music Types of Odissi music cover a rather wide range of styles. There are six major types of Odissi music.
| | • | Rabindra Sangeet Originated by Rabindranath Tagore, Rabindra Sangeet still reverberates the distinct aura of Indian classical music. In the arena of Indian classical music, Rabindra Sangeet with its entire classical aura and distinct romanticism stands as one of the primary music of India.
| | • | Qawwali This is a traditional form of Islamic music usually found in India and Pakistan. Qawwali is a vibrant musical tradition of India, which dates back to more than 700 years and is still a surviving art of music today.
| | • | Folk Music of South India Folk Music of South India runs in the blood of every South Indian. The children are encouraged by their elders to learn folk music. Folk Music of South India has a number of forms and their variations can be found in other parts of India as well.
| | |
|
|
|
|