The North Indian Percussion Instruments

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 History of the Instrument 2

3.0 Instrument Overview and Nomenclature 3

4.0 How it is Played 5

5.0 Styles and Traditions 17

6.0 Social Aspects and the Future of the Instrument 18

7.0 Glossary 20

8.0 Bibliography 22

1.0 Introduction

This essay seeks to address a variety of aspects pertaining to the North Indian percussion instrument the Tabla with a primary focus on the nomenclature, notation, and styles used by Hindustani musicians throughout history. As the foundations of North Indian Classical music are highly complex, it is crucial to understand the basic systems and principles that are held, before making coming to conclusions regarding music styles and cultures. Once these aspects have been addressed we can then consider the position the instrument plays culturally in its own context as well as the impacts it has and position it plays in the greater environment. The vocabulary used will be important throughout the essay; words in italics are included in the glossary on page 11 for the convenience of the reader.

2.0 History of the Instrument

The origins of the tabla as an instrument have never been assuredly agreed upon. In mythology, it has been said that the drums were a creation of the Lord Shiva based on cave drawings which date back to 200 BCE. Another alternative could be that the instrument stemmed from Persian influences, developing from the tabal, a drum set originating in Persia which functions similarly to the tabla. Others believe tales that the sounds of the Indian phakawaj were not diverse enough for musicians of the time, so the drum was split into two ...

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...b, Robert S. Solo Tabla Drumming of North India. India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1993. Print.

Neuman, Daniel M. “The Social Organization of a Music Tradition: Hereditary Specialists in North India”. University of Illinois Press. Vol. 21, No. 2 (1977): 233-245. JStor. Web. 20 April 2014.

Maitra/Gurtu. Liner Notes.Tabla Tarang: Melody on Drums. Smithsonian Folkways. 1996. CD.

Sharma, R.P. How to Play Tabla. Naveen Shahdra Delhi: Better Books, 2007. Print.

Subramanian, Lakshmi. ‘”Accompanist’ as ‘Star’ Performer”. Economic and Political Weekly. Vol. 41, No. 14 (2006): 1307 – 1309. JStor. Web. 20 April 2014.

“Tabla Gharanas”. India Heritage. Web. 20 April 2014. http://www.indiaheritage.org/perform/music/h-i-ta-g.htm

Wegner, Gert-Matthas. Vintage Tabla Repertory: Drum Compositions of North Indian Classical Music. New Delhi: Munshirah Manhartal Publishers, 2004. Print.