Kingri (string instrument)
{{short description|Indian string instrument}}
{{Infobox Instrument
| name = Kingri
| image =
| image_capt = Kingri/Kingiri
| background = string
| classification = *String instruments
| hornbostel_sachs =
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = Composite chordophone sounded with a bow
| developed = Ancient India
| related = *Ravanahatha
}}
Kingri is a chordophone bowed string instrument (string spike fiddle) originating from the Indian subcontinent, similar to Rabab and Ravanastron. It has a resonator box of unglazed pottery, through which a stick is passed to function as the neck. {{cite web|url=http://digitalstamp.suppa.jp/musical_instruments_k/kingri.html |title=kingri |publisher=Digitalstamp.suppa.jp |date= |accessdate=2013-12-05}}
History
The Kingri is mentioned in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, in many Ancient Indian Brahmin's tales. {{cite web|url=http://www.santmat-thetruth.de/souls-journey-861/items/book_the_souls_journey_en_5.9.html |title=Soul's Journey |publisher=www.santmat-thetruth.de |accessdate=2013-12-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211134616/http://www.santmat-thetruth.de/souls-journey-861/items/book_the_souls_journey_en_5.9.html |archivedate=2013-12-11 }} and in Punjab's folk music.{{cite web|url=http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/arts/musicPunjab/Music%20of%20Punjab.htm |title=The Fourfold Heritage (Music of Punjab) |publisher=Sikh-heritage.co.uk |accessdate=2013-12-06}} The kingri is also used in traditional death ceremonies, marriages and religious festivals in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Texture and Timbre
The kingri first appeared as a single string instrument and has since evolved into a three string instrument. A long piece of bamboo is inserted into the fingerboard with three pegs. The strings on the bow are made by using three tufts of horse hair or Goongaru.{{cite web|url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Kingri-54203.htm |title=Kingri in India |publisher=India9.com |date=2005-06-07 |accessdate=2013-12-05}} The strings on the instrument were originally made of animal gut, but modern day Indian gypsies typically use low quality steel strings instead, resulting in more vibrato and lending the instrument a sound similar to the violin.
Modern use
Sri Lankan composer Dinesh Subasinghe used the kingri on the album Rawan Nada as well as for performing folk music.{{cite web |url=http://archives.dailymirror.lk/2007/11/26/life/07.asp |title=:: Daily Mirror – Opinion :: |publisher=Archives.dailymirror.lk |date=2007-11-25 |accessdate=2013-12-05 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402210118/http://archives.dailymirror.lk/2007/11/26/life/07.asp |archivedate=2013-04-02 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080113/Mirror/mr610.html |title=Creative tunes |publisher=Sundaytimes.lk |date=2008-01-13 |accessdate=2013-12-05}} In 2007, Subasinghe made some modifications to the instrument and discovered it to be another close version of the Ravanstron mentioned in Abele and Niederheitmann's The Violin: Its History & Construction.This refers to the following book: Abele and Niederheitmann, The Violin: Its History & Construction, Illustrated & described, From Many Sources. London: William Reeves, 1900–1930. Translated by John Broadhouse..for the first time a four string Kingri has created by Sandaruwan Ranatunga in Sri Lanka & it was used by Dinesh Subasinghe in various musical recordings,