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Sarangi
Sarangi is a short-necked and bow-shaped string instrument belonging to India. In fact, this instrument originated from folk instruments of Rajasthan. This instrument plays a pivotal role in the classical music of India. Among all the instruments of India, this instrument bears great resemblance to the voice of human. It can emulate the vocal ornaments like meend, the meaning of which is sliding movements and gamakas, the meaning of which is shakes.
This instrument consists of four major playing strings and numerous sympathetic strings. It does not consist of fingerboard or frets. Its strings keep floating in the air. The pitch of this instrument is evaluated by moving the fingernail on the string rather than pressing it on a fingerboard such as violin. It is very hard to play. As a result, its fame is on the declining trend. It has been traditionally related with vocal styles of kheyal, dadra and thumri and kathak dance. This instrument has been highly related with geisha tradition of the version of India, chiefly called as Tawaif.
Origin of Sarangi
There are various versions for the origins and meaning of Sarangi but the vastly accepted and the most logical ones are that the terminology ‘Sarangi’ has been derived from two words of Hindi, Sau and Rang. The meanings of ‘Sau’ and ‘Rang’ are hundred and colour respectively. Hence, the meaning of 100 colours and the word ‘Sarangi’ is mixture of two terminologies of Sanskrit. The meaning of ‘Saar’ is summary and ‘Ang’ is form, i.e. various styles of vibrating the instrumental music. Therefore, the complete meaning of the instrument is to shorten each and every style of playing or music. These both versions signify towards the same efficacy of the instrument, which can play any kind of music and sound melodious and beautiful.
The list of the players of Sarangi is culturally very closely associated to the vocal music. However, a concert with the help of solo Sarangi as the chief item will perhaps include full presentation of Raag with exhaustive Alap in igniting intensity and many other compositions in increasing tempi, known as Bandish. Consequently, this instrument is on par with several other instrumental styles like Bansuri, Sarod and Sitar.
Design
This instrument is carved out from a block of wood. This instrument consists of box fitted with three chambers. These chambers are Magai, Chaati and Pet. As far as dimension of Sarangi is concerned, it is nearly 2 feet long and about 6 inches wide. The dimension of the instrument may vary as there exist many smaller and larger Sarangi s also. Its pet or lower chamber remains veiled with parchment, which is composed of the skin of the goat on which a thick layer of leather is kept around the waist, which provide support to the bridge, which is elephant-shaped. This bridge is composed of buffalo or camel bone. This bridge provide support to the immense pressure of nearly 35-37 sympathetic brass or steel strings and also three chief gut strings, which penetrates through it. The three major strings are much thicker and bowed with bulky horsehair not fitted with finger tips but with surrounding flesh, cuticles and nails. The neck consists of ivory platforms on which digits tend to slide. The remaining ones are tarabs or resonance strings, which number around 35-37 and are divided into choirs numbering 4 possessing two distinct sets of pegs. One rests on the right and one rests on the top. Inside, there is tunes row of at least 15 tarabs and on the right side; there is diatonic row of at least 9 tarabs. Each encompasses a full octave and also 1-3 notes below or above that. These sets of tarabs go from the chief bridge to the set of pegs lying on the right side by means of tiny holes inside the chaati, which remains supported by bone or ivory beads. On the either side of the principal stings and between inner tarabs lie two more sets of bigger tarabs with at least 5-6 strings lying on the right set and also 6-7 strings lying on the left set. They emerge from the principal bridge onto two wide, flat and tiny table resembling bridges by means of the extra bridge to the second pet fitted on the top. These are made tuned to the pertinent tones of the raga. A systematically tuned Sarangi will buzz and hum just like a hive of the bee with tones plucked on any of the chief strings yielding resonances just like echo.Some Sarangi s use strings made from the goat intestines. These strings remind of the heydays of rich musicians, who could maintain the affordability of such strings. There are different types of Sarangi.
Playing Positions
While playing Sarangi the artists sits with legs crossed on the floor and places this instrument just in front of the chest. Bowing is very crucial and the process of synchronization of bowing with the technique of left hand is the most difficult work. Usually, three fingers are often used in a peculiar way and quite different from other instrument, the sound is yielded by making contact of left finger nails and strings.
Notable Players
Sultan Khan
Sultan Khan was on born on April 15th 1940 and died on November 27th 2011. He was a great Sarangi player and also tradition vocalist. He is included among the members of the fusion group of India along with Bill Laswell and Zakir Hussain. He has also won the accolades of Padma Bhushan, which is considered the third highest civilian honor. He was born nearby Jaipur in the rich state of Sikhar lying in the Indian Empire. He was taught the playing of Sarangi by Gulab Khan, his father.
Ikram Khan
This personality is a conspicuous player of Sarangi. He belongs to a family of great musicians hailing from Sikar Gharana. He was groomed and initiated by his father, who was a conspicuous player of Sarangi.He often uses thicker strings on this Sarangi which provides his music a unique and deep tone. He took his lessons from his dear uncles, Shri Liyakat Ali Khan and Shri Gulab Khan. He was greatly influenced by Sultan Khan. In the year of 1989, he became disciple of Gandha Bandhan. Ever since, he has accompanied numerous musicians belonging to India including Hidayat Khan, Ustad Sultan Khan, Ulhas Kashalkar, Rashid Khan, Gulkam Mustafa khan and Kishan Maharaj. He has also toured Europe, United States and several other countries for his performance. He is broadcaster on Doordarshan and All India Radio. He has also remained associated with All Radio Ahmadabad since the year of 1989.
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