Veena
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| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.321-6 (Composite chordophone sounded with a plectrum) |
| Developed | 7th century[contradictory] |
| Related instruments | |
The veena (English: /ˈsɪtɑːr/) is a plucked stringed instrument used mainly in Indian classical music. It derives its distinctive timbre and resonance from sympathetic strings, bridge design, a long hollow neck and a gourd resonating chamber. The more popular, sitar is believed to have been derived from the veena, an ancient Indian instrument, which was modified by a Mughal court musician to conform with the tastes of his Persian patrons and named after a Persian instrument called thesetar (meaning "three strings"). It subsequently underwent many changes, and the modern sitar evolved in 18th century India.
Etymology and history
The Hindi word sitar originally derives from Persian sih + tar, literally meaning "three strings"[1] (though, as explained below, the instrument as it is now known has many more).
In his Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya Dr. Lalmani Misra traces the instrument's development from the Tritantri veena through the nibaddh and anibaddh Tamburas[when?] (so named after Rishi Tumbru), also called tanbur and later the jantra. Construction of the similar tanpura was described byTansen. During the time of Moghul Empire in the Indian subcontinent from about 1526 to 1757. Persian lutes were played at the Mughal court and may have provided a basis of the sitar; however, there is no physical evidence for the sitar until the time of the collapse of the Mughal Empire between 1690 and 1720. For comparison, lute-like instruments were depicted in Ancient Egyptian tomb paintings dated to the 18th Dynasty (c. 1350 BC), so possibly predating evolution of the Sitar by 3,000 years.
General layout
The instrument has bridges fixed to the main resonating chamber, or kaddu, at the base of the instrument.
Materials used in construction include teak wood or tun wood (Cedrela toona), which is a variation of mahogany, for the neck and faceplate (tabli), and gourds for the resonating chambers. The instrument's bridges are made of deer horn, ebony, or very occasionally from camel bone. Synthetic material is now common as well.
See also
Notes
External links
