The music of Rajasthan has its own unique flavor which has kept the five thousand year old traditions of the state alive. String instruments like Sarangi, Ektara, Morchang, Kamayacha, Rawanhatta are an integral part of music in Rajasthan along with dholaki.
In previous post we have already discussed Sarangi, Rawanhathha and different types of Sarangi. Today we will post about some of the other popular string instruments in Rajasthan.
Kamayacha Musical Instrument
Kamaycha
Kamayacha is an extremely elegant instrument of the professional singing community of Mangniars all over Marwar region of Rajasthan. It has a large circular belly covered with parchment, a peg system and a finger board.
It has three main strings of gut, besides nine supplementary and four sympathetic steel strings all passing through a broad bridge. The long wooden curved bow of horse-tail hair moving on all the strings is characteristic of this instrument.
Morchang
The morchang resembles a jew’s-harp. The plaintive, melancholic twang of the morchang adds a desolate dimension to songs of Marwar.
Ektaara
The Ektaara is also a single string instrument, but it is mounted on the belly of a gourd attached to a body made of bamboo.
The Galaleng Jogis of Dungarpur and Banswara have twin gourd-ed Kendru, which appears akin to the ancient Kinnari Veena. It is often called the Keengri in Rajasthan literature.
The Chautara, also called the Tandoora or Nissan , is a popular five stringed drone and beat instrument, it is used as an accompaniment to devotional music and for the Terathali dance of Rajasthan.
