Indian Music Experience Museum
What are Etchings?
Etching is a 17th-century printmaking process in which lines or areas are incised using mordant or acid into a metal plate to hold the ink for printing. Solvyns prepared a folio of 288 plates called 'Les Hindous.'
Bankia (Baunck)
Bankia is a wind instrument made of bronze consisting of a tube with a saucer-shaped bell. It is used in the Rajasthani Chari dance and is commonly played at weddings, religious events, processions, and rituals.
Bansi
Bansi is a wind instrument crafted from a hollow bamboo shaft with six or seven finger holes. It is widely used in Indian folk, tribal, and classical music. The Bansi depicted in this context is a nostril-blown version, which is thought to be used by the Brahmin community.
Dampha
Dampha is an octagonal percussion instrument crafted from leather, wood, and bamboo. It comprises 32 sticks that are used to secure and tighten the leather. Its origin is attributed to Tamang King Peng Dorje, from Nepal. It is played by the Tamang community in Tamang Selo music.
Dhak
Dhak is a percussion instrument, made of wood and cow skin. The instrument is often decorated with white feathers or traditional white flowers known as kaashphool. The percussive drum beats are an integral part of Durga pujo, a religious celebration of West Bengal.
Jaltarang
Jaltarang, meaning 'waves in water' is an ancient idiophonic instrument. It features a set of ceramic bowls filled with varying amounts of water that are played by striking the rim of the bowl with small sticks. Popular in classical Indian music, it's played by trained musicians.
Jhanjari
Jhanjari is made up of two hollow copper rings that are filled with copper balls. The performer puts it in motion moving his fingers producing a rhythmic metallic sound. In Bengali, the term 'Jhanjari' refers to jingling (Jhaj) and cascade (jharani).
Joorghaje
Joorghaje is a twin-drum percussion instrument referring to a 'pair' (Jor) and an 'elephant' (Ghaje). It is composed of two distinct bodies of varying sizes that are joined together. Sound is produced by striking one side of the drum with a stick and the other with fingers.
Kartal
Kartal is a solid instrument (idiophone) used to maintain the rhythm while singing. It is crafted from a range of materials such as wood, copper, or brass. Brass Kartals are a used in Vaishnav Kirtan in Bengal.
Khanjari
Khanjari is a percussion instrument made up of jack wood and leather from lizard skin or goat skin. It features metal bells attached to its rim that create a jingling sound. It is commonly used in religious, folk, and classical music in India for rhythm accompaniment.
Khol
Khol is a percussion instrument made of clay and cow skin. The right face of the drum has a high pitch and produces a metallic sound, whereas the left face produces a lower bass sound. It is often used in the music of the Vaishnavite culture of Bengal, Assam, and Manipur.
Kuplyans
The Kuplyans, a stringed instrument with two gourds, was played with fingers and a wooden slide. Its swan-shaped tip symbolized the mount of Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom. Although the Kuplyans held cultural importance during the 18th century, it is now no longer in use.
Nagara
Nagara is a percussion instrument, made of wood and leather. It is played with two wooden sticks and is often accessorized with feathers and flowers. It is used in the Seraikella Chhau dance form of Bihar, and by the Ho tribes of Madhya Pradesh during festivities.
Oorni
Oorni is a single-string instrument with an open coconut shell and a bamboo stick. It is played with a bow adorned with ornamental bells (ghungroo). The Oorni is widely used across India and is known by different names throughout the country.
Pakhavaj
Pakhavaj is a double-headed drum used to accompany the Hindustani classical Dhrupad and Dhamar styles of music. It is played using the palm and fingers. The Pakhavaj originated in the 14th century and is known to be the predecessor of the Tabla.
Pinak
Pinaka Vina, a single-stringed instrument, featured a long bar with gourd resonators at both ends. The instrument was played using a bow and a sliding stick. It was named after Lord Shiva's bow, the Pinaka, and was used in Hindustani music during the 18th century.
Ramsinga
The Ramsinga is a wind instrument composed of four interlocking metal tubes that form an "S" shape. Made of copper, it is played during special events such as festivals, receptions, processions, and weddings in both India and Nepal.
Sarangi
Sarangi, a bowed string instrument, has 3 melodic strings and 11–37 sympathetic strings. It is known for its ability to imitate the human voice and has the capability to produce oscillations and slides. The Sarangi is used in folk and Hindustani classical music.
Sarinda
Sarinda, a bowed musical instrument with a short neck and a heart-shaped deep body is made of teak wood. It has 4 main gut strings that produce a deep, resonant sound. Historical texts suggest that the sarinda was mostly played by palanquin bearers and fishermen communities.
Sitar
Seen here is a sehtar, which is said to have predated the sitar, which originally had 3 strings. Today, the Sitar has 5 melodic and many sympathetic strings and varies in design and tonality from its predecessor. Sitar is widely played in the Hindustani classical music .
Swarmandal
Swarmandal is a harp-like string instrument, that is most commonly used as a supporting instrument in north Indian vocal music. It is tuned to the specific raga (melody) to create a melodious sound space in concert settings.
Tabla
Tabla is a twin drum set crafted from clay, wood, metal, and leather. It is commonly played in a variety of Indian music genres such as classical, devotional, folk, sufi, etc. It is widely used to accompany vocal and instrumental music and is also played for rhythm in dance.
Tambura
Tambura is a four-stringed drone instrument made of a hollow body for resonance. It provides a sustained, continuous drone to complement vocal or instrumental music performances. The tambura depicted here is elaborately decorated with inlaid bone.
Tikara
The Tikara, made of two clay kettle drums played with wooden sticks, was a prevalent instrument in Bengal and was widely used in weddings, public festivities, and royal celebrations. However, it is now a rare sight to see people playing this instrument.
Tobrie
Tobrie is a wind instrument made out of a dried fruit hollowed out to allow in three pipes of bamboo, two below and one above. This folk instrument is traditionally played by snake charmers in India.
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