Sarangi

Sarangi is a bowed string instrument typical of Indian subcontinent. Sarangi forms an important string instrument in Hindustani school of classical music tradition. It is said that of all Indian instruments, Sarangi resembles most to the sound of the human voice. The origin of the name Sarangi is very interesting as the word Sarangi has been derived from two Hindi words- sau (which means 100) and rang (color). It has been named so as the sound of the Sarangi is as communicative and evocative as hundred colors.

The music of Sarangi is often vocal. When the Sarangi players perform, the words of classical songs are generally present in their mind and the performance usually adheres to the principles of vocal performance. Carved from a single block of wood, Sarangi is box-like in shape. It is usually around two feet long and half a foot wide. The lower resonance chamber of Sarangi is hollowed out, which is covered with parchment and a strip of leather at the waist, supporting the elephant-shaped bridge. The bridge of Sarangi supports the pressure of numerous strings (approximately 40 strings).

The three comparatively thick, tight and short strings of Sarangi are bowed with a heavy horsehair bow and stopped with the nails, cuticles and surrounding flesh. To provide lubrication in fingers, talcum powder is used. Rest of the strings in Sarangi are for resonance and may number up to 35. The lowest level comprises of a diatonic row of 9 tarabs and a chromatic row of 15 tarabs (resonance strings). There are two more sets of longer tarabs between these lower tarabs and the main playing strings. These are tuned to the important tones of the raga.