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{{Short description|Sikh bowed musical instrument}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Dilruba}}
{{Infobox Instrument
| name = Dilruba
| names = Dilrupa
| image = Dilruba boy.jpg
| image_capt = A [[Sikh]] boy playing the Dilruba
| background = string
| classification = [[Bowed string instrument]]
| developed = [[India]]
}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
The '''Dilruba''' (also spelt '''dilrupa''')<ref name="madhumita">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxsy28eStmAC&pg=PT23 |title=Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India |last=Dutta |first=Madhumita |publisher=Star Publications |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-905863-29-7 |pages=22–23}}</ref> is a [[Bowed instrument|bowed]] [[musical instrument]] from [[India]]. It is slightly larger than an [[Esraj]] and has a larger and square [[resonance]] box.


The '''dilruba''' (also spelled '''dilrupa''')<ref name="madhumita">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxsy28eStmAC&pg=PT23 |title=Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India |last=Dutta |first=Madhumita |publisher=Star Publications |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-905863-29-7 |pages=22–23}}</ref> is a [[Bowed instrument|bowed]] [[musical instrument]] originating in [[India]]. It is a type of Bowed Sitar that's slightly larger than an [[esraj]] and has a larger, square [[resonance]] box like a [[sarangi]]. The dilruba holds particular importance in [[Sikhs|Sikh]] history.
[[File:Dilruba woman.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.65|Woman playing the Dilruba.]]


It was popularised in the west in the 1960s by acts like [[The Beatles]] in their psychedelic phase, for example on tracks like '[[Within You Without You]]'.
It became more widely known outside [[India]] in the 1960s through use in songs by Western artists, such as [[the Beatles]] during their psychedelic phase (most notably in the song "[[Within You Without You]]").

==Etymology==
The name of the instrument derives from the [[Persianization|Persianized]] [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] word دلربا/दिलरुबा (''dilrubā''), literally meaning "that which ravishes or steals the heart."<ref name="lr232">{{Cite web |last=Khalsa |first=Sukhmandir |title=Dilruba: Ravisher of the Heart |url=https://www.learnreligions.com/dilruba-ravisher-of-the-heart-2993034#:~:text=Dilruba%20may%20be%20interpreted%20to,root%20word%20dil%2C%20meaning%20heart. |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=Learning Religions |publication-date=4 June 2017}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Dilruba was created some 300 years ago by the 10th [[Sikh]] Guru, [[Guru Gobind Singh]], who based it on the much older, and heavier, [[Taus (instrument)|Taus]]<ref name=madhumita/><ref>{{cite book|author=Dharam Singh|title=Perspectives on Sikhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXzXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT158|year=2001|publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University|isbn=978-8-1738-0736-7|pages=158}}</ref> This made it more convenient for the [[Khalsa]], the [[Sikh]] army, to carry the instrument on horseback.<ref name="radioandmusic">{{Cite web|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/features/180329-rarely-played-indian-instruments|title=Rarely played Indian instruments|date=2018-03-29|website=Radioandmusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-26}}</ref>
The traditional story is that the dilruba was invented around 300 years ago by the 10th Sikh [[Guru]], [[Guru Gobind Singh]], who based it on the much older and much heavier [[Taus (instrument)|taus]].<ref name=madhumita/><ref>{{cite book|author=Dharam Singh|title=Perspectives on Sikhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXzXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT158|year=2001|publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University|isbn=978-8-1738-0736-7|pages=158}}</ref> His innovations made it more convenient for the Sikh army (the ''[[khalsa]]'') to carry the instrument on horseback.<ref name="radioandmusic">{{Cite web|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/features/180329-rarely-played-indian-instruments|title=Rarely played Indian instruments|date=2018-03-29|website=Radioandmusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-26}}</ref>


There is some doubt in the research community about the truth of the traditional origin story described above.<ref name="renaissance">{{cite journal |last1=Kaur Khalsa |first1=Nirinjan |title=The Renaissance of Sikh Devotional Music Memory, Identity, Orthopraxy |date=2014 |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/107325/nirinjan_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref> Some traditional kirtan bearers, such as Bhai Avtar Singh Raagi, have clarified the history of the dilruba's creation being tied to the patronage of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and created by Mahant Gajja Singh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clearing misconceptions on the history of the Dilruba - Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi | website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyGVUpT8DoY&ab_channel=JivanpalSingh |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/uyGVUpT8DoY| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Construction Style==

The structure of the Dilruba has a medium sized [[Sitar]]-like neck with 20 heavy metal frets. This neck holds on a long wooden rack of 12-15 sympathetic strings. The Dilruba has four main strings which are bowed. All strings are metal. The soundboard is a stretched piece of goatskin similar to what is found on a [[Sarangi]]. Sometimes the instrument has a gourd affixed to the top for balance or for tone enhancement. The instrument can be rested between the knees while the player kneels, or more commonly rested on the knee of the player while sitting, or also on the floor just in front of the player, with the neck leaning on the left shoulder. It is played with a bow with the other hand moving along the strings above the frets. The player may slide the note up or down to achieve the portamento, or meend, characteristic of [[Indian music]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discoversikhism.com/sikh_saaj/dilruba.html|title= Dilruba|date=2020-03-08|website=Discover Sikhism|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-08}}</ref>
After the introduction of the [[harmonium]] to the Indian Subcontinent by the [[British Raj]], the dilruba fell out of use due to its comparatively steeper learning curve. In more recent times, it has had a resurgence, accompanying [[Ragi (Sikhism)|ragis]] in the Harmandir Sahib ([[Golden Temple]]) since 2006,<ref name="renaissance" /> and becoming more commonly taught within India and around the world.

==Construction==
The instrument has a medium-sized [[sitar]]-like neck with about 20 metal frets, which are meant to guide the hand placement of the player. The neck holds a long wooden rack of 12-15 sympathetic strings. The dilruba has four main strings, all made of metal.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Krishnaswami |first1=S. |title=Musical instruments of India |journal=Asian Music |date=1971 |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=31–42 |doi=10.2307/834150 |jstor=834150 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/834150 |access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref> The soundboard is a stretched piece of goatskin similar to what is found on a [[sarangi]]. Sometimes, the instrument has a gourd affixed to the top for balance or for tone enhancement. The instrument can be rested between or on the knees while the player kneels, or on the floor just in front of the player, with the neck of the instrument leaning on the left shoulder of the player. It is played using a bow in the right hand, with the other hand moving along the strings above the frets longitudinally.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Krishnaswami |first1=S. |title=Musical instruments of India |journal=Asian Music |date=1971 |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=31–42 |doi=10.2307/834150 |jstor=834150 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/834150 |access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref> The player may slide the note up or down to achieve the portamento, or meend, as is characteristic of [[Indian music]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discoversikhism.com/sikh_saaj/dilruba.html|title= Dilruba|date=2020-03-08|website=Discover Sikhism|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-08}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.tarang-classical-indian-music.com/indian_musical_instruments/dilrupa.htm Indian Musical Instruments]
* [http://www.tarang-classical-indian-music.com/indian_musical_instruments/dilrupa.htm Indian Musical Instruments] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809210659/http://www.tarang-classical-indian-music.com/indian_musical_instruments/dilrupa.htm |date=9 August 2017 }}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Indian musical instruments]]
[[Category:Indian musical instruments]]
[[Category: Sikh music]]

Latest revision as of 11:43, 1 November 2024

Dilruba
A Sikh boy playing the Dilruba
String instrument
Other namesDilrupa
Classification Bowed string instrument
DevelopedIndia

The dilruba (also spelled dilrupa)[1] is a bowed musical instrument originating in India. It is a type of Bowed Sitar that's slightly larger than an esraj and has a larger, square resonance box like a sarangi. The dilruba holds particular importance in Sikh history.

It became more widely known outside India in the 1960s through use in songs by Western artists, such as the Beatles during their psychedelic phase (most notably in the song "Within You Without You").

Etymology

[edit]

The name of the instrument derives from the Persianized Hindustani word دلربا/दिलरुबा (dilrubā), literally meaning "that which ravishes or steals the heart."[2]

History

[edit]

The traditional story is that the dilruba was invented around 300 years ago by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who based it on the much older and much heavier taus.[1][3] His innovations made it more convenient for the Sikh army (the khalsa) to carry the instrument on horseback.[4]

There is some doubt in the research community about the truth of the traditional origin story described above.[5] Some traditional kirtan bearers, such as Bhai Avtar Singh Raagi, have clarified the history of the dilruba's creation being tied to the patronage of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and created by Mahant Gajja Singh.[6]

After the introduction of the harmonium to the Indian Subcontinent by the British Raj, the dilruba fell out of use due to its comparatively steeper learning curve. In more recent times, it has had a resurgence, accompanying ragis in the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) since 2006,[5] and becoming more commonly taught within India and around the world.

Construction

[edit]

The instrument has a medium-sized sitar-like neck with about 20 metal frets, which are meant to guide the hand placement of the player. The neck holds a long wooden rack of 12-15 sympathetic strings. The dilruba has four main strings, all made of metal.[7] The soundboard is a stretched piece of goatskin similar to what is found on a sarangi. Sometimes, the instrument has a gourd affixed to the top for balance or for tone enhancement. The instrument can be rested between or on the knees while the player kneels, or on the floor just in front of the player, with the neck of the instrument leaning on the left shoulder of the player. It is played using a bow in the right hand, with the other hand moving along the strings above the frets longitudinally.[8] The player may slide the note up or down to achieve the portamento, or meend, as is characteristic of Indian music.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Dutta, Madhumita (2008). Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India. Star Publications. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-1-905863-29-7.
  2. ^ Khalsa, Sukhmandir (4 June 2017). "Dilruba: Ravisher of the Heart". Learning Religions. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. ^ Dharam Singh (2001). Perspectives on Sikhism. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 158. ISBN 978-8-1738-0736-7.
  4. ^ "Rarely played Indian instruments". Radioandmusic.com. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b Kaur Khalsa, Nirinjan (2014). "The Renaissance of Sikh Devotional Music Memory, Identity, Orthopraxy" (PDF). Retrieved 26 October 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Clearing misconceptions on the history of the Dilruba - Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
  7. ^ Krishnaswami, S. (1971). "Musical instruments of India". Asian Music. 2 (2): 31–42. doi:10.2307/834150. JSTOR 834150. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  8. ^ Krishnaswami, S. (1971). "Musical instruments of India". Asian Music. 2 (2): 31–42. doi:10.2307/834150. JSTOR 834150. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Dilruba". Discover Sikhism. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
[edit]