MUSIC
INSTRUMENTS
GARAH
The simple earthen pitcher serves as a musical
instrument in a number of folk songs. The Garah player strikes its sides with rings worn
on fingers of a hand and also plays on its open mouth with the other hand to produce a
distinct rhythmic beat.
TOOMBA
Toomba is a famous folk instrument of Punjab, which
is entirely based on Iktara (single stringed instrument), used by the legend singers. Now
it has adopted by a number of Punjabi Folk Singers. Toomba is made of wooden sticks
mounted with a Toomba or wooden resonator covered with skin. A metallic string is passed
on a resonator over a bridge and tied to the key at the end of the stick.. The string is
struck with a finger or sometimes with the Mizrab and the Swaras are molded by pressing
the string to the stick.
DHOL
Dhol is the most favorite folk instrument of Punjab.
It is a percussive instrument, which is used not only with male dance performances but
also on most of the social rituals and festive celebrations. The drummer is called Dholi
or Bharaj. It is a barrel shaped wooden drum with a mounted skin on both sides. It is
played with two different types of wooden sticks. The skin on either side is tightened at
a different pitch.
DHAD
Dhad is a small percussive instrument of the Damru
style. Held in one hand, it is struck on the either side, the other hand holding the
skinned sides vertically or horizontally. This instrument has been very popular with the
Dhadies who sing traditional ballads of brave warriors and heroes drawn from history.
CHIMTA
This instrument is a percussive twangs type
instrument used in Punjab and neighboring areas. The tradition of playing it with songs
goes back to the Naths or Jogis. This instrument consists of two long flat pieces of iron
with pointed ends and rings mounted on it. The joint is held in one hand. While the two
parts are struck with each other for producing tinkling sounds. Chimta has become popular
in professional singing and devotional music in temples.
SARANGI
Sarangi is a popular bowed instrument in Punjab. It
is about 24 inches wooden instrument cut from a single log covered with parchment. A
bridge is placed on the belly in the middle. The sides of the Sarangi are pinched so as to
bow it. The instrument usually has three major strings of varying thickness and the fourth
string is made of brass, used for drone. Modern sarangies contain thirty five to forty
sympathetic strings running under the main strings. This used for accompaniment by the
artists and is an ideal instrument for producing all types of Gamks and Meends.
BUGDHU
This is a stringed instrument made of dried gourd
(Ghia) . A piece of skin is mounted on one side of the hollowed gourd while the other side
is kept open. A gut string (Tand) is crossed through the center of the skin and a small
piece of wood is tied to the end of he string, which passes through the body of the gourd.
To maintain a drum like rhythm, the string is stretched or loosened while playing.
ALGOZA
Algoza consists of a pair of wooden flutes. It is
also called Jori (a pair) and is played by one person with only three fingers on each
side. The folk singers of Punjab use Algoza in their traditional legend singing like
Mirza, Chhalla, Jugni etc. The instrument is also used a accompaniment with folk dances.
NAGADA
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