List of Nepali musical instruments#Chordophones
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File:Newars in Lhasa with drums.jpg
This list contains "traditional" musical instruments used in Nepal. Instruments overlap with nearby countries, including India and Tibet. An example is the Sarangi, a common bow Indian instrument. Although the Nepali people have their own local variant Sarangi (Nepal), both instruments are known in Nepal. Some of the instrument are madal,{{Cite web |last=Poudel |first=Parsuram |date=2021-09-15 |title=The Historical Context and Present Scenario of M𝒂̅dal |url=https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/jfac/article/view/48332/36106 |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=nepjol.info |language=English}} maddlam, dholak. In such cases where instruments were imported in ancient times, or when both varieties are played in Nepal, both can be included on the list. New instruments of Nepali origin may be included, as well as modern recreations of " extinct " instruments. Modern imports such as the western guitar are not included.
There are hundreds of Nepali musical instruments and they are not standardized. When considering seemingly identical instruments, the languages, region of origin, musician's ethnicity and local traditions may affect the instrument's identity and how it is played.
Research avenues
File:Saraswati Devi Maa is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning.jpg with an unnamed lute-style veena in Kathmandu. Images like this give clues to the nature of old musical instruments, if the artifact can be reliably placed to a particular place and past date.]]
Many Nepali folk instruments {{cite book |title= The Historical Context and Present Scenario of M𝒂̅dal |author=Parsuram Poudel|doi=10.3126/jfac.v3i2.48332}} or lokabaja (नेपाली लोकबाजा) date back into prehistory or inaccessible history. General histories of musical instruments, such as History of Musical Instruments by Kurt Sachs, have little to say directly about Nepal. Sachs focused two chapters on India, and when addressing the ranasrnga, on Northern India. When instruments used in Nepal were included in Sachs' book, such as drums with hooked sticks (p. 157), the dameru (p. 159), the lute with a barb on its sides (160–161), the sarangi (226), and the ranasrnga (p. 228), the organizational focus was on India, or "North India."
JSTORE, an online repository of academic journals has articles. An example by Thomas O. Ballinger and Purna Harsha Bajracharya, Nepalese Musical Instruments, Southwestern Journal of Anthropology, Published by: The University of Chicago Press, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Winter, 1960), pp. 398–416 (19 pages). Thomas compares the instruments he found with that found in books by A. Campbell and Daniel Wright. Gives descriptions of instruments.
:History of Nepal, by Daniel Wright, Cambridge: University Press, 1877.
:Notes on the Musical Instruments and Agricultural and Other Instruments of the Nepalese, by A. Campbell, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. 6 (1837), pp. 953-963.
The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments is a more comprehensive resource, with many instruments having been documented by ethnomusicologists. Random entries for Nepali instruments include Arbajo, Damaha, the Kingdom of Nepal [and its instruments and international music relationships] and the ghanta (both large "male" bells and smaller "female" handbells). This resource requires either a subscription (not inexpensive), access to a university library, or purchase of the $995 set of books.{{cite book |title= The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments |date = April 2014| publisher=Oup USA |isbn = 9780199743391|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rvzYjwEACAAJ&q=The+Grove+Dictionary+of+Musical+Instruments}}
Museum and museum catalogs: In 1995, a local project was begun in Nepal, to document the folk instruments there. Ram Prasad Kadel began to visit different parts of his country and collect examples of instruments that he found. He talked to musicians and made recordings. In 1997, he founded the Nepali Folk Instruments Museum, which opened to the public in 2002 in Kathmandu. Kadel wrote two books, catalogues of some of the museum's instruments. Nepali Lokbaja or Folk Musical Instruments of Nepal was published in 2004. The Nepali-language book contains entries and images for 375 instruments. The language made the contents inaccessible to most readers outside Nepal. In 2007 Kadel's Musical Instruments of Nepal was published, an English-language book with 362 Nepali instruments and more detailed pictures. The book is the only book in the English language whose focus is Nepali folk musical instruments. Today his museum has more than 40,000 hours of recordings.
Membranophones
=Tambourines and frame drums=
=Kettle drums and single-headed drums=
=Hourglass drums=
=Long two-headed drums=
=Multiple heads nested=
Idiophones
=Bells=
- Yakuchaa Babhu, bell
- Ghote, circlet of bells on a leather thong.
| class="wikitable" |
| Name in English
! Name in Nepali ! Description !Ethnic Connections ! Town / Region ! Picture |
|---|
| Ghanta or Gan
|{{ill|घण्टी|ne|vertical-align=sup}} |Ceremonial bells.{{Cite web|url=https://asian-recipe.com/nepalese-musical-instruments-2218,%20https://asian-recipe.com/nepalese-musical-instruments-2218|title=Nepalese Musical Instruments |website=Asian-recipe.com|date=5 January 2020|access-date=22 April 2021}} Hindu temples generally have one metal bell hanging at the entrance and devotees ring the bell while entering the temple. | | |File:Ghanta in Changu Narayan-Changunarayan photowalk-WLV-3852.jpg |
| Dibya Ghanta (divine bell)
| दिव्य घण्ट | Very large bells were made for the three Newar kingdoms. The dibya ghantas each hung from a wooden crossbeam by very thick chains. They were located in Kathmandu Durbar Square (big enough that 16 men could fit inside), Bhaktapur Durbar Square (holds 8 men), and Patan Durbar Square, Lalipur (holds 12 men). The dibya ghantas were used during evenings in prayer to Degu Teleju Bhadani, the patron goddess of the Newar people of Nepal.{{cite book |title=Musical Instruments of Nepal |last=Kadel |first=Ram Prasad |publisher=Nepali Folk Instrument Museum |place=Katmandu, Nepal| date=2007 |pages= 144, 146, 147, 150–152, 154, 156, 162, 163, 166, 183, 194, 271, 269 |isbn= 978-9994688302}}{{cite web |url=https://www.livehistoryindia.com/snapshort-histories/2018/09/16/the-goddess-who-went-to-nepal |title= The Goddess Who Went to Nepal |quote=Goddess Taleju Bhawani is the patron Hindu goddess of the Newar people of Nepal...three main temples in Nepal dedicated to Goddess Taleju Bhawani...at Kathmandu, Patan...and Bhaktapur...}} | | |
| Small Ghanta
| | Small bells at a temple, often outside. Bells often made of alloy of lead, copper, zinc, nickel and chromium. | Hindus | |
| Phye Ghan
| फ्ये गँ: | Small bell (about 18 centimeters high) with a wind-activated clapper. | | |
| Mate Ghanta
| | Small bells suspended in circle under large bell with clapper to catch wind; a windchime. | | |
| Name in English
! Name in Nepali ! Description !Ethnic Connections ! Town / Region ! Picture |
| Ghalting
| घाल्टिङ | Bell played in religious worship and at the temple. "Pure and holy because it is rung only during worship." Rung before rice planting at Jaatri ceremony. Brass bell, about 10 centimeters high x 6 centimeters diameter. | | |
| Dilbu
| | Also called ghanta, drilbou, and tribu (Tibet). Brass hand-bell used in Tantric Buddhism. About 18 centimeters long x 10 centimeters diameter. The handle is in form of "Bajra" or Vajra, a type of ceremonial club with a ribbed spherical head. Handle represents male, bell represents female. | |
| Baisnava ghantra
| | Bell of brass or pancha dhatu alloy with Shesha Naga on top. Shesa Naga figure may resemble lotus leaf. Played while worshipping Vishnu. | Vaishnava Hindus. Also other Hindu societies during (Puja). | |
| Ghunguru
| घुँघुरा | Small bell about 1 cm or smaller, ball shaped, iron ball inside. Can be sewn onto cloth or on string. | | |
| Chaanp
|{{ill|चाँप|ne|चाँप (गहना)|vertical-align=sup}} |Ankle bells. Three rows of 9 ghungroo sewn onto thick cloth, worn by female dancers (or men in female role). | | |
| Kaalwaal khuruwaa or Kaankara
|? or {{ill|खाँकर|ne|vertical-align=sup}} |Hollow metal anklets with iron balls inside, make noise when moving feet, worn by female dancers. Tube is about 12 cm in diameter. |File:Anklet from India, 19th century, silver with gold wash, HAA.JPG |
| Name in English
! Name in Nepali ! Description !Ethnic Connections ! Town / Region ! Picture |
| Khachhad Ghanta
| | Mule (khachhad) bell Bell hung on the neck of the leading mule while packing loads in the hills. Thin iron, about 20 centimeters long x 13 centimeters diameter. Other mules wear smaller (about 15 centimeter long bells). | | | |
| Ghodi ghanta
| | Horse (ghodda) bell. Brass bell worn on the necks of horses grazing, to help locate them in the mountains. About 7.5 centimeters length x 7.5 centimeters diameter. Bell removed during horseback riding. Brass bell, very loud. | | | |
| Ghamdo
|घाँडो |Iron horse bell. Used in hunting; hunters would follow the sound of the bell. | | |
| Gau ghanta
| | Iron bells (set of three) worn by the head cow (gai) (in herds owned by Brahmins. Other cows, such as bulls and calves have single bells. About 10 centimeters long x 6 centimeters diameter. | | | |
| Chaunri ghanta
| चौरी घण् | Yak bell, various designs with thunderbolt on top and a flat bottom, about 13 centimeters long x 7.5 centimeters diameter. | | | |
| Galambe
| गलम्बे | Folk instrument of Sunuwar caste. Also, iron bell worn around the neck of a hunting dog. About 10 centimeters long x 5 centimeters diameter.{{Cite book |title=Folk Instruments of Nepal |last= Kadel |first= Ram Prasad |publisher= Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum |place= Katmandu |year=2004 |isbn= 978-9937911399 |pages= 65, 76, 90}} | | |
| Boke ghanta
| बोके घण् | Goat (bokaa) bell. Bell worn by goats that are dedicated to a god or goddess. A warning not to harm the animal to avoid sin. | | | |
| Bayal ghanta
| | Wooden bells hung around the necks of oxen (teraai goru) pulling a cart. Rectangular, about 15 centimeters tall x 20 centimeters wide with two or four wooden clappers inside. Made of white teak (Gmelina arborea)or Trewia nudiflora | |
| Kole or Ko La
| कोले | Water buffalo bells, worn around neck of buffalo. Rectangular bell with sloped roof (looks like simple house), made of thin sheets of iron, with bone or iron clapper. About 5 inches long x 4 inches wide. | | Midwestern region, Terai | |
=Cymbals=
=Gongs=
=Jaw harps=
| class="wikitable" |
| Name in English
! Name in Nepali ! Description ! Ethnic Connections ! Town / Region ! Picture |
|---|
| Binayo
| {{ill|बिनायो|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | bamboo jaw harp. | | | File:Nachhiring Rai Womens Playing Binayo and Murchunga Traditional Kirati Instrument.jpg |
| Murchunga
| {{ill|मुर्चुङ्गा|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | | |
=Jingles, clappers, struck objects=
Chordophones
=Tube zithers and raft zithers=
- Bhante Maadal. 2-String bamboo drum zither.{{cite book |title=Musical Instruments of Nepal |last=Kadel |first=Ram Prasad |publisher=Nepali Folk Instrument Museum |place=Katmandu, Nepal| date=2007 |pages= 218, 229, 230, 271|isbn= 978-9994688302}}
- Tunjaai. Tube zithers connected together into a single instrument, a raft zither, hanging from the shoulder and plucked with a plectrum. Made from Thysanolaena maxima.
- Yalambar (यलम्बर) / Yalamber Baja (tube zither-drum) {{ill|यलम्बर (बाजा)|ne|vertical-align=sup}}
Aerophones
=Trumpets=
=Flutes, panpipes=
| class="wikitable" |
| Name in English
! Name in Nepali ! Description ! Ethnic Connections ! Town / Region ! Picture |
|---|
| Bansuri
| {{ill|बाँसुरी|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | A side-blown bamboo flute with six holes. | | |
| Chongwari
|{{ill|चोङ्वारी|ne|vertical-align=sup}} |Also called a chari baja (चरी बाजा). Pan pipes. | | | |
| Kuku Baya{{cite book |title=Musical Instruments of Nepal |last=Kadel |first=Ram Prasad |publisher=Nepali Folk Instrument Museum |place=Katmandu, Nepal| date=2007 |page= 51|isbn= 978-9994688302}}
|{{ill|कुकु वय्|ne|कुकुवय्|vertical-align=sup}} |End-blown flute, about the length of a hand about 30 cm, carved from satisaal wood with seven fingerholes and a thumbhole.{{Cite book |title=Folk Instruments of Nepal |last= Kadel |first= Ram Prasad |publisher= Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum |place= Katmandu |year=2004 |isbn= 978-9937911399 |page= 54}} Played at weddings with the koncha khin. | |
| murali
| {{ill|मुरली|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | A side blown bamboo flute or fife with six holes. Made from nigalo or gobi bamboo, or Bhakkimilo (Chinese sumac){{cite book |title=Haamra Lokbaajaaharu (translation with subtitle: Our Musical Instruments, 'A course book for school children.') |last= Kadel |first=Ram Prasad | publisher= The [Nepal] Ministry of Education, Curriculum Department of Nepal Government |date=2006 |language= ne |page=7 |url= http://musicmuseumnepal.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/RS344_HAMRA-BAJAHURU-BALBODH-21.pdf}} Murali is general word for flute, and the word can also be applied to fife, panpipe, reed pipe, mouth organ, and chamfer. (Words that all came up in Google translate as alternate definitions). | | | File:Flute salesman in Kathmandu.jpg and transverse bamboo flutes.]] |
| murali
| मुरल |End-blown fipple bamboo flutes include Dhungre murali, Goje murali, Murali and Sipi Bharuwaa murali. | | | File:Bibilimma Murali Baja of Athpahariya Rais Dhankuta District Nepal.jpg Rai caste.]] |
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=Reed instruments=
| class="wikitable" |
| Name in English
! Name in Nepali ! Description ! Ethnic Connections ! Town / Region ! Picture |
|---|
| Ghyaling (Tamang ghyaling and Sherpa ghyaling)
| | Shawm. Played in "identical pairs" with prayers, and alongside laawaa/radun/dungchen (long trumpets) and bupsel (brass cymbal chimes) when some Buddhist scriptures are read. Tamang version has 7 fingerholes and a thumbhole. Sherpa version has 8 fingerholes and a thumbhole. | | | File:Solo, Tharlam Monastery Band Plays During Lamdre, Boudha, Kathmandu, Nepal.jpg band plays during Lamdre at Boudha, Kathmandu.]] |
| Masak or Masak baja
| | Single-reed bagpipes. The mashak (also known as mushak baja, masak, mishek, meshek, moshug, moshaq, moshuq, mashak bin, bin baji) is a type of bagpipe found in Northern India, Sudurpaschim Province(specially Baitadi and Darchula district) of Nepal and parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.{{cite conference |last=Day |first=CR |title=Notes on Indian Music |book-title=Proceedings of the Royal Musical Association |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-8w5AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA64 |conference=Twentieth Session, 1893–94 |date=13 February 1894 |publisher=Novello, Ewer, & Co. |location=London |pages=64–}} The pipe was associated with weddings and festive occasions.{{cite book|author=Himal Associates|title=Himāl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xcEWAQAAMAAJ|access-date=23 April 2011|year=1993|publisher=Himal Associates|page=24}} In India it is historically found in Garhwal(kumaon) in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.Andrew Alter. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/834409 Garhwali & Kumaoni Bagpipes: Syncretic Processes in a North Indian Regional Musical Tradition]. Asian Music, Vol. 29, No. 1 (Autumn, 1997 - Winter, 1998), pp. 1-16. Published by: University of Texas Press, link at JSTOR. This bagpipe uses single reeds,{{cite book|author=Geneviève Dournon|title=Handbook for the collection of traditional music and musical instruments|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kGgIAQAAMAAJ|access-date=23 April 2011|date=May 2000|publisher=Unesco|isbn=978-92-3-103304-9|page=23}} and can be played either as a drone or as a melody instrument.{{cite book|author=Sibyl Marcuse|title=A survey of musical instruments|url=https://archive.org/details/surveyofmusicali00marc|url-access=registration|access-date=24 April 2011|date=April 1975|publisher=Harper & Row|isbn=978-0-06-012776-3}} File:Sruti Upanga, India bagpipes, 19th century.jpg bagpipe.]] | | |
| muhaali
| {{ill|मुहाल|ne|मुहाली|vertical-align=sup}} | Reed instruments, two styles.
| | |
| Pungi
| {{ill|पुँगी|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | Snake-charmer's flute a double reed woodwind with two reed pipes (one a drone) attached to small gourd, a mouth-blown air hole at the top of the gourd. Simpler instrument than the bin; it lacks the bin's holes on the drone pipe, for changing scale. Learners may use this before going on to the bin. If used for snake charming, an additional bamboo rod is attached. | | | File:India-6784 - No Money - No Picture .... A Real Charmer - Flickr - archer10 (Dennis).jpg |
| Bin or Bean
| {{ill|बीन|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | Like the Pungi, a double reed woodwind with two reed pipes (one a drone) attached to small gourd, a mouth-blown air hole at the top of the gourd. The bin's drone pipe has two or three holes to allow it to change notes for changes of scale. | | |
| Raasaa
| | Trumpet or reed pipe (unclear). | | | |
| Sahane
| {{ill|सहनाई|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | Quadrupal-reed woodwind used in the Panche baja. Also spelled phonetically Sanahī (सनही), Sanai (सनै), sana'ī (सनई), sahanā'ī (शहनाई), or sanā'ī (सनाई). The Nepalese instrument is curved. Imported from Persia (called surnā there), by way of India.{{cite book |title= The History of Musical Instruments |last=Sachs |first= Kurt |publisher= W. W. Norton & Company |place= New York |date= 1940|pages= 230–231 |quote=...imported from Persia, preserved its Persian name surnā in North India...sānāyī}} Instrument is carved in two halves that are glued together, then further stabilized with rings, and a bell added at the bottom.{{cite web |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |title= Śahanāī 19th century|url= https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/503275}} Musicians use circular breathing to maintain continuous tone. | | |
| Pipirma
| {{ill|पिपिरिमा|ne|vertical-align=sup}} | Leaf of tree held at the mouth and blown to create sharp music mostly in rural areas of Nepal. | | | |
Unidentified
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140625114556/http://www.spinybabbler.org/traditional_arts/music/instruments.php Information about music, instrument and a caste allowed to play them.]
- [http://world-music-travelling.blogspot.com/2010/11/nepal-beautiful-music-and-lanscape.html?m=1 Page talks about state of research of Nepali musical instruments. May be source for part of this list.]
{{Nepal topics}}
{{Musical instruments of Nepal}}
{{Asian musical instruments}}