Bansuri (Flute) : The Veena, the Flute and the Mridangam are three instruments which find mention in our Vedic texts. The flute with its historical reference to Lord Krishna is regarded as the most sacred and oldest of these. The Tleena was common since the ancient times to play devotional music, especially by the Buddhists.
Indian sculptures belonging to the 1st century at Sanchi, Amravati and the paintings at Ajanta and Ellora depict human figures as well as celestial beings playing the flute, both as an accompaniment to vocal music and as part of an instrumental ensemble. For centuries the flute remained more or less in practice and use for religious purposes. Different kinds of Bansuris or flutes were played on different occasions.
In addition to the mouth-hole, there are six or eight prearranged holes in a straight line and these are closed or opened with the fingers of both the hands. The sound produced by blowing into the mouth-hole in a controlled manner and moving the fingers on the other holes controls not only the sound, but also the pitch and notes.
The flute, while playing, is held in a horizontal position with a slight downward inclination and both the thumbs are used to hold the flute in position. Some Bamboo Flutes are longer than the flutes used in South. The horizontal flutes are very popular both in South and in North India. There are certain flutes which are played in a vertical manner through a mouthpiece. The flute is one of the very few Indian instruments which is widely known not only in India, but in the West also. Perhaps the flute went from India to the West and became a part of Western music and orchestra.
Recent Comments