| Themes > Arts > Music > Musical Instruments > Musical Instruments of South Asia > Flute with Vocal Drone | ||
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The originality of this flute lies in its complex performing technique, which contrasts with its extremely simple structure. The pipe is made out of a species of wood and measures almost one metre long: four finger-holes are pierced towards the lower end. The simple mouth-hole cut at the opposite end has a slightly beveled rim. Both the type of this mouth-hole and the length of the pipe oblige the musician to keep his instruments in a slanting position. This occurs in a number of instruments of this kind, end-blown flutes held obliquely, of which the prototype is the Persian nay. They are widespread in the musical traditions of the Near East, the Balkans and the Maghreb in particular. | |
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The nar of Rajasthan, like its namesakes in Pakistan and Baluchistan, is played with a very special technique, whereby the musician accompanies the melody with a modulated drone uttered simultaneously from the throat. This combination of vocal and instrumental practices creates unusual sound effects, to which a skilled performer may add at will. Here is an example played by a herdsman from the Thar desert, whose repertoire as such remains confined to just a few pastoral tunes. |
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