Esraj
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 A Sikh boy playing the Esraj | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Dilruba |
| Classification | Bowed string instrument |
| Developed | 17th century |
| Related instruments | |
Esraj (Template:Lang-pa (Gurmukhi); modern variant of the Dilruba (Punjabi: ਦਿਲਰੂਬਾ (Gurmukhi)) is a Punjabi string instrument invented by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. It is a relatively recent instrument, being only about 300 years old; primarily found in Punjab, where it is used for Sikh music and Hindustani classical compositions.
The dilruba and its variant, the esraj, had been declining in popularity for many decades. By the 1980s, the instrument was nearly extinct. However, with the rising influence of the "Gurmat Sangeet" movement, the instrument has been once again attracting attention.
History
The dilruba was created some 300 years ago by the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who based it on the much older taus, which was the work of the sixth Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind.[1][2] The dilruba was invented to replace its heavier predecessor, the taus. This made it more convenient for the Khalsa, the Sikh army, to carry the instrument on horseback.
The esraj is a more modern variant of the dilruba that was made and promoted by the Namdharis. It has been recently adopted into Rabindra Sangeet by musicians from Bengal.
Construction styles
The dilruba and its variant, the esraj, have a similar yet distinct construction style, with each having a medium-sized sitar-like neck with 20 heavy metal frets. This neck carries a long wooden rack of 12–15 sympathetic strings. While the dilruba has more sympathetic strings and a differently shaped body than the esraj, they both have 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.
Playing
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 (known as a "gaz"), with the other hand moving along the strings over the frets. The player may slide the note up or down to achieve the portamento, or meend.
Notable players
- Guru Gobind Singh
- Pandit Ashesh Banerjee
- The Beatles, used in "Within You Without You"
- Pandit Shiv Dayal Batish
- Pandit Ranadhir Ray
- Kalipada Ghoshal
- Buddhadeb Das
- Master Sri Chinmoy
- Ravi Shankar
- S. N. Bose
- Sukesh Jana
- Arshad Khan
- Subhayu Sen Majumder
- Abir Singh Khangura
- Alexandre Jurain
- Jonathan Kay
- Sougata Das
- Joel Goldsmith
See also
References
- ^ Dutta, Madhumita (2008). Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India. Star Publications. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-1-9058-6329-7.
- ^ Dharam Singh (2001). Perspectives on Sikhism. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University. p. 158. ISBN 978-8-1738-0736-7.