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Since early periods of Indian music history, three instruments have played an important role in the evolution of sacred music and in the context of dance and music recitals: vina, bamboo-flute und mridangam. They form the proverbial triad of Indian music: vina-venu-mridanga.
The refinement of their respective playing techniques is ascribed to a conscious process of unifying vocal and instrumental styles of music.
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This decorative detail of a vina depicts Sarasvati, the goddes of the arts and learning. In Carnatic music lyrics, she is described as being fond of playing the long-necked lute. Today, this instrument is widely known as Sarasvati vina.
Listen to a brief music example played by Rajeswari Padmanabhan whose daughter, tutor Sreevidhya Chandramouli, is a renowned vina and vocal performer and teacher in her own right. – Photo: Ludwig Pesch with kind assistance by Dr. Pia Srinivasan
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The bamboo flute of South India is known as venu (Sanskrit) or pullankuzhal (Tamil). It has been a favourite with ancient poets just as sculptors from all over India.
It is also referred to as vamsa (lit. "bamboo" or "pipe") from which the modern North Indian variant derives its present name (bansuri).
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The mridangam is the main drum of Carnatic music. It is traditionally associated with Nandikesvara, a master drummer mentioned in ancient myths. The authors of Abhinaya darpana (a treatise on performing arts) and tala lakshanam (a work on rhythm) have therefore adopted his name.
Listen to a brief music example played by T. R. Sundaresan. A Co-Tutor of this course, he has also contributed to its textbook as the main resource person for all sections pertaining to South Indian rhythm and percussion. – Photo: Ludwig Pesch with kind assistance by T. R. Sundaresan
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For more information on the above and related subjects, see also The Oxford Illustrated Companion to South Indian Classical Music by Ludwig Pesch, Oxford University Press (New Delhi, 1999), and the author's homepage.
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