February 1998 - Volume 4, No. 2
An Exhibit of Musical Instruments from India
by Matt Appleby
The classical musics of north and south India are related, but very different. Both traditions are represented by instruments recently installed in a Music Library exhibit, and some instruments associated with regional musical traditions are also represented.
North Indian classical instruments included are sarod (fretless plucked lute with sympathetic strings), venu (bamboo transverse flute), and tala (hand cymbals). Venu and tala are also played in many folk traditions of north and south India. Unique to many north Indian folk music traditions is the double-headed drum called dhak (dhak is a general term for drum in most north Indian languages). The anandalahari is played for self-accompaniment by the baul singers of Bengal.
South Indian classical musical instruments are the double-headed drum mridangam, clay pot ghatam, frame drum kanjira, and double-reed nagaswaram. Ghatam, kanjira, and nagaswaram are also played at Hindu festivals, weddings, and other occasions.
The instruments are from the private collections of UW students John Loud, Roger White, and Matt Appleby. The sarod is on loan from the UW-Madison School of Music.