Krsna Kirtana Songs est. 2001 www.kksongs.org
The sarangi is the popular bowed instrument of North
Indian music. Its name comes from the words ‘sau rangi’ meaning one-hundred
colors. Many musicians prefer this instrument, as it has a unique vocal quality
that no instrument can replicate. Made from a single block of wood, it contains
a soundboard made of goat skin. There are four strings made from goat
intestines (gut), eleven upper sympathetic strings tuned to the notes of the
raga, and thirty-five side sympathetically tuned chromatically. There is no
fingerboard and no frets, which adds a major component to its difficulty. In
addition, the playing action requires one to use one’s fingernail and slide up or
down, as opposed to the fingertip. Immensely difficult to play and tune, the
use of the sarangi has been on the decline, due to the rising popularity of the
harmonium, esraj, and dilruba. The sarangi has been initially used to accompany
vocalists, although it is gaining reputation as a solo instrument.
AUDIO CLIP:
Songs Featuring Sarangi on KKSongs:
Song:
Isvara Parama Krsna (2007)