Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Garhwal Folk Dramas

Review of Characteristics of Garhwali Folk Drama, Folk Theater/Rituals and Traditional Plays part -141  

                  गढ़वाली लोक नाटकों के वाद्य यंत्र

                             

                     Bhishma Kukreti (लोक साहित्य शोधार्थी)

                  Chordophone Musical Instruments of Garhwali Folk Dramas

            Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal mentioned the Sarangi as folk music instrument of Garhwal. Sarangi is an old Indian musical instrument. In hills of Garhwal, Sarangi had not been much popular. However, the saints used to play Sarangi. There are paintings of Sarangi in wall paintings at Guru Ram Darbar Sahib Dehradun (B.P. Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal). It seems that Garhwal kings used to enjoy by enjoying Sarangi from touring classical singers. Gaddi tribe of Garhwal especially border of Himachal uses Sarangi. There had been Sarangi players in plains of Dehradun, Haridwar and Bhabhar.   Bow type musical instrument was common in Garhwal in quite old time but not now.

           Sarangi is four stringed musical instrument that is fitted on a main body of frame. The wooden frame is rectangular, hollow from inside and half of the top is covered by goat skin. Strings are tied on pegs and number may vary. Sarangi is played by a narrow, stretched bow having string of leather or metal. The string is always stretched. Usually, Sarangi is used in religious singing or chanting occasions or a specific occasion. For example, recently (31 January 2014), Sarangi maestro Kamal Sabri played Sarangi in a program of  National Institute of visually handicapped.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 22/4/2014

Characteristics of Garhwali Folk Drama, Community Dramas; Folk Theater/Rituals and Traditional to be continued in next chapter

                 References

1-Bharat Natyashastra

2-Steve Tillis, 1999, Rethinking Folk Drama

3-Roger Abrahams, 1972, Folk Dramas in Folklore and Folk life 

4-Tekla Domotor , Folk drama as defined in Folklore and Theatrical Research

5-Kathyrn Hansen, 1991, Grounds for Play: The Nautanki Theater of North India

6-Devi Lal Samar, Lokdharmi Pradarshankari Kalayen 

7-Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 1-12

8-Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal, Garhwal ke Loknritya geet

9-Jeremy Montagu, 2007, Origins and Development of Musical Instruments

10-Gayle Kassing, 2007, History of Dance: An Interactive Arts Approach

11- Bhishma Kukreti, 2013, Garhwali Lok Natkon ke Mukhya Tatva va Charitra, Shailvani, Kotdwara

12- Bhishma Kukreti, 2007, Garhwali Lok Swangun ma rasa ar Bhav , Chithipatri

13-Manorama Sharma, Tribal Melodies of Himachal Pradesh: Gaddi Folk Music

 XX

Notes on Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Garhwal Folk Dramas; Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Haridwar, Garhwal Folk Dramas; Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Dehradun, Garhwal Folk Dramas; Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Pauri Garhwal Folk Dramas; Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Tehri Garhwal Folk Dramas; Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Uttarkashi Garhwal Folk Dramas; Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Chamoli Garhwal Folk Dramas; Sarangi (Indian Guitar): String Musical Instrument of Rudraprayag Garhwal Folk Dramas;