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A curious invention of Allauddin Khan, fashioned from discarded rifle barrels and requiring three people to play fully
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—Naltarang demo—
“Making beautiful-sounding musical instruments out of the battered remains of old guns sounds idealistic. But in Madhya Pradesh, such an instrument does exist – and what’s more it has been played as part of a local orchestra for nearly 80 years. The instrument is called Nal Tarang, which literally means ‘waves from the barrel’ – and is made out of old gun barrels. It was created back in the early part of the century by Ustad Allauddin Khan…It is the only musical instrument of its kind in the world, and it takes three people to play it…” (AP)
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• Hindustani Instruments: Anandi | Bansuri | Bass-Veena | Bazantar | Bulbul Tarang | Cello | Chaturangi | Dilruba | Electric Guitar | Esraj | Fretless Guitar | Harmonium | Jal Tarang | Jori | Mandolin | Mohan Veena | Nal Tarang | Pakhawaj | Piano | Rabab | Rudra Veena | Sagar Veena | Santoor | Sarangi | Sarod | Saxophone | Shehnai | Sitar | Surbahar | Sursagar | Sursingar | Swarmandal | Tabla | Tabla Tarang | Tanpura | Tar Shehnai | Taus | Vichtra Veena | Violin
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—Hindustani Raga Index—
An open-ended project seeking to bring North Indian raga closer to all who approach with open ears. Combines direct input from dozens of leading Hindustani artists with in-depth insights from music history, global theory, performance practice, cognitive science, and much more besides!
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George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Homepage for more, and hit me up for Lessons!
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