Science of Indian Musical Instruments and Music Therapy

Home , Bahar (raga), Bihag, Darbari Kanada, Dhani (raga), Hindol, Jaunpuri (raga)

Ashok Kumar Mandal, Avinash Kumar, and Nainesh Trivedi Department of Mechanical Engineering National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur

July 8, 2021

1. Introduction

The knowledge of music in India is as old as its civilization [1–3]. The sculptures of old temples, paintings and the scriptures reveal the historical presence of music in Indian civilization. The ancient scripture Sama Veda is dedicated to art of music. Indian classical music is deep, profound and melodious [4]. This music and practices related to it is one of the living ancient sciences of India. In this article, we do not go deep into science of Indian classical music rather our focus is the science of Indian musical instruments and a short note on music therapy. We observe that the science of Indian instruments is as profound as the Indian classical music.

2. Indian Musical Instruments

The musical instruments of India are classified in four categories: tata vadya - stringed instruments, avanaddha vadya - drums, ghana vadya - cymbals, and susira vadya - wind instruments [1–3]. Vadya means that which can be played - a musical instrument. Tata means that which has strings and tata vadya refers to all kinds of stringed musical instruments. Stringed instruments of Indian origin are of two types - (a) plucked stringed instruments which are played by plucking the strings and (b) bowed stringed instruments which played by bowing against the strings [10]. Some of the Indian plucked stringed instruments are shown in figure1. In figure2, we show some bowed stringed instruments of Indian origin. In this article, we discuss some distinguished scientific aspects of Indian stringed musical instruments and drums. In figure3, we show some of the Indian drums. C.V. Raman has performed some remarkable works on science of musical vibrations in Veena and Tabla [5–10]. One of the distinguishable feature used in the construction of the Indian plucked stringed instruments is the presence of a finite curved bridge [9]. We discuss the acoustic advantages achieved due to this feature

1 Figure 1: Some of the Indian plucked string instruments.

Figure 2: Some of the Indian bowed string instruments.

in section3. Raman recognized another distinguished feature of Indian drums which is the black patch on the drum head [7]. Theses features are unique and observed only in the Indian instruments. The advantages of the black patch and corresponding researches are presented in section4.

2 Figure 3: Some of the Indian drums.

3. Vibrations of Strings in Veena

Raman performed some experimental investigations on veena and appreciated antiquity of these instruments [9]. The stringed musical instruments shown in figure1 are mostly derived from ancient veena [2]. Researchers have modeled the vibration of strings against a boundary obstacle which is the most distinguished feature of an Indian long neck lute [11–13]. Four characteristics of acoustic richness are reported in literature [14, 15] which are (a) accurate harmonicity in large number of overtones, (b) amplitude modulations, (c) frequency modulations, and (d) long sustained sound. It has been observed the finite bridge is the factor which introduces nonlinearity in the system dynamics which in turn makes the modes of vibrations of strings synchronized. This modelocked motion makes the sound accurately harmonic [16, 17] which is not observed in plucked stringed musical instruments of other countries. The nonlinear modal interaction introduced by the finite bridge remain responsible for large number of overtones, frequency and and amplitude modulations which makes the sound of sitar and veenas beautiful [18, 19].

4. Indian Drums

Some of the Indian drums are shown in ﬁgure3, where we observe a common feature in construction which is the black patch on the drum heads [7]. Animal skins are generally used as drum heads which are circular shaped. These circular stretched membranes produce highly inharmonic overtones. Unlike

3 drums of other continents, Indian drums have a sustained harmonic character of tones and this feature of sound is due to the brilliant construction. The heavy wooden shell in these instrument gives the sustained membrane vibration without rapid communication to the structure [8]. The trapped air inside gives a positive factor in the same direction. On the other hand, in the drum head the marginal ring acts as a damper without influencing lower tones, it suppresses inharmonic higher tones. The presence of black patch on the drum head tends to arrange first nine normal modes into the harmonic sequence of five tones. Since this illustration done by Raman in 1920 [7], researchers became curious to this topic. Ramakrishna and Sondhi [20,21] have given the first mathematical model for the vibration of composite membrane used in tabla and shown the harmonic nature of the overtones. Ramakrishna [21] considered symmetrical and unsymmetrical loaded composite membranes and analysed their nodal patterns, where he used sound pressure from a loudspeaker to produce the excitation. Sarojini [22] formulated the problem for eccentrically loaded drum head i.e. left side drum head where the loading is unsymmetrical. Tiwari and Gupta [23] analysed the air loading effect on the acoustics of Indian musical drum. In his article, the authors have discussed six parameters to obtain first nine natural frequencies, subsequently calculating an error function for cavity backed composite membrane. They studied the effect of tension on the frequency ratios for first nine modes in the right hand tabla.

5. Indian Music Therapy

Human brain is responsible for secretion of various hormones that control different glands of the body. Different researchers have been studying the effect of music on human mind. The transmission of audio signals from the eardrum is done by cochlea that converts the vibrations into electrical signals which are transmitted through nerves. The human brain interprets these electric signals and responds accordingly. It is possible to detect these electrical signals and hence, we can observe brain activity when it is subjected to different types of music. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a tool for measuring those signals. The signals are measured by placing electrodes on the scalp. EEG signals are classified into Delta, Thetha, Alpha and Beta waves. Different waves have different frequency bands and represent different states of mind. For example, presence of delta waves (0.1 to 3.5 Hz) implies the state of deep relaxation, healing and connection with subconscious mind [24,25]. Thetha waves (3.5 to 7 Hz) on the other hand indicate reduced mental fatigue. Alpha waves (7 to 14 Hz) indicate increased concentration, motivation and happiness. Beta waves (14 to 32 Hz) represent critical thinking, anxiety and unfocused thinking. Indian music is based on ragas which are specific melodic structures with an enormous scope of improvisation. However, a musician must learn by heart from a competent teacher the intricate grammar and aesthetics of a raga. These ragas have very strong influence on human mind and on the

4 Ailment Healing Ragas Nervousness Yaman Kalyan, Poorvi, Pilu, Puria, Tilang, Darbari Kanada Rage, frenzy, madness, hysteria Bahar, Bageshwari, Khamaj, Kedar, Lalit Epilepsy Darbari Kanada, Bihag Dhani Common headache Kamod, Multani, Paraj Headache due to cough Malkouns High blood pressure Hindol, Poorvi, Todi Nightmares Malkouns, Bhim Palasi Impotency and dizziness Vasant, Khamaj, Sarang, Sorat Wet dreams Bhup, Bhairavi, Bhupali Oligospermia Sorat, Bhupali, Sankara Infertility in women Kanada ki Bahar, Vasant, Khamaj Typhoid Darbari Kanada, Bageshwari, Khamaj Malaria, Seasonal ﬂue Todi, Pilu, Sohini, Hindol, Khamaj, Vasant Liver disorders Poorvi, Pilu, Sohini, Yaman Kalyan, Puria, Sankara, Bhup, Dhani, Tilang

Table 1: Ragas for healing [26] brain waves. According to Swara Shastra, the seventy-two parent ragas control the 72 important nerves in the body [27]. When these ragas are performed with purity of notes, grammar and devotion, it can inﬂuence and heal through those nerves. A list of suitable ragas for healing diﬀerent ailments are given in Table1 and2 from two sources [26] and [27] respectively.

6. Conclusions

In this article, we present a short note on the science of Indian musical instruments and music therapy. Musical instruments like sitar and veena have distinguished constructional feature like finite bridge and heavy wooden structure provide advantages for long sustained large number of harmonic tones. Indian drums, on the other hand, have the heavy wooden structure with stretched composite membrane as drum head which facilitates long sustained overtones. These aspects of richness in tones of musical instruments are unique and are not available in other parts of the globe. Further research in this field will definitely reveal remarkable appreciation of acoustic principles used in the construction of these musical instruments. We have discussed here some aspects of Indian music therapy just to give a

5 Ailment Healing Raga Severe stress Durga, Kalavati, Hamsadhwani, Shankarabharanam, Tilak Kamod Mental tension Darbari, Darbari Kanhada, Khamaj, Puriya Depression Bhupalam, Kedar, Malaya marutham, Bilahari Insomnia Bageshri, Nilambari Hypertension Ahirbhairav, Anandabhairavi, Bhairavi, Bhupali, Darbari, Durga, Kalavati, Puriya, Todi, Kalyani, Yaman Blood pressure Malkauns, Hindol Gastric hyperacidity Deepak Anger and inner violence Punnagavarali, Sahana Constipation Gunkali, Jaunpuri Intestinal gas Malkauns, Hindolam Paralysis Dvijaavanti

Table 2: Ragas for healing [27]

ﬂavour of richness of ancient Indian knowledge of music and its application which is one of the living stream of indigenous science of India.

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