A guide to the musical instruments of NE India: classification, distribution, history and vernacular names DRAFT CIRCULATED FOR COMMENT -NOT FOR CITATION WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR Roger Blench Kay Williamson Educational Foundation 8, Guest Road Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/Ans 0044-(0)1223-560687 Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804 E-mail [email protected] http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm This printout: December 25, 2011 Roger Blench: Musical instruments of Northeast India. Front matter. Circulation draft only TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................................................................I PHOTOS ........................................................................................................................................................IV MAPS .............................................................................................................................................................VI PREFACE.................................................................................................................................................... VII 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 General .................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Introduction to organology...................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Musical instruments and sound-producers.............................................................................................. 3 1.4.1 Modern materials ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.4.2 European instruments....................................................................................................................... 3 1.4.3 Electrification................................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Why study the history and the distribution of musical instruments? ...................................................... 3 1.6 Linguistic background to Northeast India............................................................................................... 4 1.7 Vernacular names of musical instruments .............................................................................................. 7 1.8 Musical forms.......................................................................................................................................... 7 2. IDIOPHONES ............................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 General .................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Percussion ............................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1 Untuned............................................................................................................................................ 8 2.2.1.1.1 Struck plaques ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1.1.2 Struck vessels .......................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.1.1.2.1 Gongs .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.1.1.2.2 Struck animal horn .......................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1.1.3.3 Slit-gongs ........................................................................................................................ 9 2.2.1.1.3 Clapper-bells.......................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.1.1.4 Pellet-bells ............................................................................................................................. 15 2.2.1.1.5 Vessel-rattles ......................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.1.1.5.1 General .......................................................................................................................... 15 2.4 Rattles.................................................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.2 Tuned.............................................................................................................................................. 16 2.2.1.1.1 Xylophones and metallophones............................................................................................. 16 2.3 Concussion ............................................................................................................................................ 17 2.3.2.1 Concussion sticks........................................................................................................................ 17 2.3.2.2 Split-bamboo concussion tube .................................................................................................... 17 2.3.2.3 Concussion rattles ....................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.2.4 Cymbals....................................................................................................................................... 18 3. MEMBRANOPHONES............................................................................................................................ 19 3.1 General .................................................................................................................................................. 19 3.2 Pegged or nailed drums......................................................................................................................... 19 3.3 Laced drums.......................................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.1 Laced single-headed drums............................................................................................................ 20 3.3.2 Laced double-headed drums........................................................................................................... 20 3.3.2.1 Cylindrical drums ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.3.2.2 Barrel drums ............................................................................................................................. 22 3.3.2.2.1 Conical drums .................................................................................................................. 22 3.3.2.2.2 Biconical drums................................................................................................................ 22 3.3.2.3 Kettle-drums............................................................................................................................. 23 3.4 Wedge-laced drums............................................................................................................................... 23 i Roger Blench: Musical instruments of Northeast India. Front matter. Circulation draft only 3.5 Glued drums.......................................................................................................................................... 23 3.6 Screw-tensioned drums ......................................................................................................................... 24 4. CHORDOPHONES .................................................................................................................................. 24 4.1 Raft-zither ............................................................................................................................................. 24 4.2 Tube-zither ............................................................................................................................................ 25 4.3 Stick-zither ............................................................................................................................................ 27 4.4 Lute ....................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.5 Fiddles and viols ................................................................................................................................... 29 4.6 Ektara .................................................................................................................................................... 31 5. AEROPHONES......................................................................................................................................... 31 5.1 Flutes....................................................................................................................................................