Musical Instruments

India. The very name is melodies and its music is timeless. Every note of its classical music has a resonance of antiquity; every strain rolls down through the ages in a rhapsody of ageless art.
Indian Music is unique among the world's music systems for having two developed classical music systems - Hindusthani (North Indian) and Karnataka (South Indian). Both have some common features like primacy of solo, vocal expressions.

Trained for years in oral tradition under a Guru, an Indian vocalist is composer, performer and conductor all rolled in to one. He may choose a traditional raga for rendering, but what he sings depends much on his capacity to improvise; he composes as he progressively elaborates. Many times he selects a composition that is centuries old - through not written down, and he has to divine the original composer's wish and perform. In addition, he controls and guides his accompanists. It is he who given them the raga, tal and laya (tempo) to be followed in the consert. He decides when to start and when to end the consert. Not bound by a score he can be tantalizingly brief or ponderously elaborate. But he is unpredictable and always full of possibilities.

India does not have an orchestra in the Western sense of the term but it has a rich variety of instrumentals solo, accompanying classical folk etc. In this gallery we introduce you to some of the major classical and folk instruments of India. The Indian classification of musical instruments is not only ancient (set down by Bharat muni in 300B.C.) but is widely accepted today.

1. TAT (Chordophone) : with vibrating strings.
2. AVANADDHA (Membranophone) : with vibrating membranes.
3. GHAN (Idiophone) : with vibrating bodies
4. SUSHIRA (Aaerophone) : with vibrating air-columns.

We have not strictly followed this classification in presenting the instruments nor have we attempted to present the full range. Neverthless, we hope that this selection will help you appreciate the grace, beauty and timelessness of India's musical instruments. Khol of Kesjvrao Bholt, Sarinda of P.L.Deshpande, Taar-shehanai of Madhukar Golwalkar, Tanpuras of Sawai Gandharva, Sureshbabu Mane, Gaan Samradni Gangubai Hangal and Hirabai Badodekar, Tamboori of Bal Gandharva, Sarangi of Kadarbaksh Khan and Flutes of Pt.Pannalal Ghosh are mention worthy in this gallery. Dwidandi Tambora, Tridandi Tambora and Chonical Tambora are also note worthy.