Some Indian Conceptions of Music

Before starting on the subject of our study this afternoon, I want to tell you about the instrument upon which I am going to play. It is a South Indian vînâ, from Tanjore. The vînâ is the national instrument of India. It possesses extraordinary tonal beauty and variety of expression when properly manipulated. Not having been able to obtain the right kind of drone instrument, called tambura, on which to accompany myself to-day, I have tuned this vînâ like the tambura, doing away with three of its strings. The effect thus obtained is similar to tambura, but of course it spoils the vînâ quality of the instrument. I must also tell you that there should be a drummer, and a vînâ- or sârenghi-player, as well as the tambura, in order to obtain a good accompaniment for songs. In the absence of these to-day, it will be rather like listening to two parts of a quartet!