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The bowed tones of the dilruba’s seldom-seen ancestor are said to mimic the sound of the peacock, India’s national bird
–Raga instruments (full list)–
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—Sandeep Singh (Ahir Bhairav)—
“The terms ‘taus’ (Farsi) and ‘mayuri veena’ (Sanskrit) both translate as ‘peacock’, the national bird of India. A curious hybrid, it combines a sitar’s moveable frets with feathers and ornate paintwork. While it may seem to be as much a sculpture as an instrument, the sound is unique. Played with a sarangi-like bow, it produces a clear tone, impressively similar to the cry of the peacock – and is said to have been invented by either Guru Hargobind or Guru Gobind Singh, both 17th-century Sikh warrior-saints. Over the early 20th century it was largely replaced by the dilruba and esraj…but has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent decades, as Sikh communities re-embrace its devotional possibilities…” (from my Taus overview for Darbar)
—More Info—
- Sa pitch: The instrument’s natural root seems to be around C#/D depending on size and performer preferences, although only a few professional recordings are available [see my Survey of Sa Tunings for more].
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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
–Survey of Sa tunings–
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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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