nadaswaram

The nadasvaram is referred to in many ancient Tamil texts. The Cilappatikaram refers to an instrument called the "vangiyam".{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} The structure of this instrument matches that of a nadasvaram.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} Since there are seven holes played with seven fingers, this was also called as the "eḻil". This instrument, too, is played in Tamil Nadu, and is popular among the Tamil diaspora.{{Cite book |last=Nayagam |first=Xavier S. Thani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58UgAAAAMAAJ&q=ezhil+instrument+tamil |title=Tamil Culture |date=1964 |publisher=Academy of Tamil Culture |pages=210 |language=en}}

File:A depiction of Nadaswaram play 1.JPG

The nadasvaram contains three parts namely, {{transliteration|ta|kuḻal}}, {{transliteration|ta|thimiru}}, and {{transliteration|ta|anasu}}.{{clarify|date=December 2012}}

It is a double reed instrument with a conical bore which gradually enlarges toward the lower end. The top portion has a metal staple ({{transliteration|ta|mel anaichu}}) into which is inserted a small metallic cylinder ({{transliteration|ta|kendai}}) which carries the mouthpiece made of reed. Besides spare reeds, a small ivory or horn needle is attached to the instrument, and used to clear the reed of saliva and other debris and allows free passage of air. A metallic bell ({{transliteration|ta|keeḻ anaichu}}) forms the bottom end of the instrument.

The seevali, or reed, is made from a dried grass.{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-simple-grass-that-brings-out-the-mellifluous-music-of-nagaswaram/article38000413.ece |title=A simple grass that brings out the mellifluous music of nagaswaram |newspaper=The Hindu |date=20 December 2021 |last1=Kolappan |first1=B. }}

Traditionally the body of the nadasvaram is made out of a tree called {{transliteration|ta|aacha}} (Tamil ஆச்சா; Hindi अंजन), although nowadays bamboo, sandalwood, copper, brass, ebony, and ivory are also used. For wooden instruments, old wood is considered the best, and sometimes wood salvaged from demolished old houses is used.{{cite web|url=http://aboutindianmusic.com/2011/11/indian-instruments-nadaswaram/ |title=Indian Instruments : Nadaswaram | Indian Music : Getting to know a little more about Indian music, musicians and instruments |publisher=aboutindianmusic.com |date=2011-11-22 |access-date=2012-01-09}}

The nadasvaram has seven finger-holes, and five additional holes drilled at the bottom which can be stopped with wax to modify the tone.{{cite book|author=O. Gosvami|title=The story of Indian music: its growth and synthesis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wEssAAAAYAAJ|access-date=25 December 2012|date=1 January 1961|publisher=Scholarly Press|isbn=978-0-403-01567-2|page=156}} The nadasvaram has a range of two and a half octaves, similar to the Indian bansuri flute, which also has a similar fingering. Unlike the flute where semi and quarter tones are produced by the partial opening and closing of the finger holes, in the nadasvaram they are produced by adjusting the pressure and strength of the air-flow into the pipe. Due to its intense volume and strength, it is largely an outdoor instrument, and much more suited for open spaces than for indoor concerts.

Some of the greatest early nadasvaram players include:

● Tiruvidaimarudur P. S. Veerusamy Pillai

• Thirumarukal Nadesa Pillai
• T.N. Rajarathnam Pillai (1898–1956)
• Thiruvengadu Subramania Pillai,
• Vedaranyam Vedamoorthy
• Karukurichi Arunachalam (1921–1964)
• Kulikkarai P Rajendran Pillai(1970–2019)
• Thirucherai Sivasubramanian Pillai
• Thiruvarur S Latchappa Pillai
• Acharyapuram Chinnathambillai (b. 1928)
• Kulikkarai Pichaiyappa
• M.S. Ponnuthayi (1928–2012)
• Kizhvelur N.G. Ganesan
• Andankoil A V Selvarathnam Pillai
• Thiruvizha Jayashankar (b. 1940)
• Brother teams of Keeranur and Thiruveezhimizhalai,
• Semponnarkoil Brothers S R G Sambandam and Rajanna.
• Dharumapuram S. Abiramisundaram Pillai and his son Dharumapuram A GovindarajanAndankoil AV Selvarathnam Pillai {{cite web |author=B. Kolappan |date=2010-12-15 |title=Arts / Music : An art that's still awaiting its due |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article952680.ece |access-date=2012-01-09 |work=The Hindu}}
• Sheik Chinna Moulana (1924 - 1999)
• Gosaveedu shaik Hassan sahieb (1928–2021)
• Sheik Mahaboob Subhani
• Kaleeshabi Mahaboob
• Namagiripettai Krishnan (1924–2001)
• Madurai M.P.N. Sethuraman (1928–2000)
• M.P.N. Ponnuswamy (1932–2023)
• Ponnusamy brothers
• Alaveddy N.K. Pathmanathan
• Mambalan M.K.S. Shiva
• S. R. D. Vaidyanathan (1929–2013)
• Seshampatti T Sivalingam
• Domada Chittabbayi (1930–2002)
• Injikudi E.M. Subramaniam
• Umapathy Kandasamy (1950–2017)
• U.E.Palanivel, Chennai
• Kundala Kambar, Nagercoil (1965)
• Sankarapandia Kambar, Tirunelveli
• Tiruvalaputtur T K Venupilla
• Kulikkarai Brothers K.M Daksaha Moorthi Pillai & K.M Ganeshan Pillai
• Pattamangalam, Selvaraj
• Kudanthai Brothers Dr Srinivasan Kaliyamoorthy,Mr Shanmuganathan Kaliyamoorthy

American composers such as Lewis Spratlan{{cite journal |last=Sampath |first=Revathi |journal=India Currents |date=16 March 2008 |access-date=2015-04-08 |url=http://www.indiacurrents.com/articles/2008/03/16/nadaswaram |title=Nadaswaram |archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326113705/https://www.indiacurrents.com/articles/2008/03/16/nadaswaram |url-status=dead }} have expressed admiration for the nadasvaram, and a few jazz musicians have taken up the instrument: Charlie Mariano (1923–2009) was one of the few non-Indians able to play the instrument,{{cite book|author1=Ian Carr|author2=Digby Fairweather|author3=Brian Priestley|title=Jazz: The Essential Companion to Artists and Albums|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I5wrGL-a-Q8C&pg=PR99-IA64|access-date=25 December 2012|year=2004|publisher=Rough Guides|isbn=978-1-84353-256-9|pages=99–}} having studied it while living in India. Vinny Golia, J. D. Parran, and William Parker have performed and recorded with the instrument.{{cite news|title=The William Parker Sessionography|url=http://www.bb10k.com/PARKER.disc.html|year=2014}} The German saxophonist Roland Schaeffer also plays it,{{cite book|title=Saxophone Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n5MJAQAAMAAJ|access-date=25 December 2012|year=1988|publisher=Dorn Publications|page=46}}{{unreliable source?|date=December 2012}} having studied from 1981 to 1985 with Karupaia Pillai.

Among the Tamil movies, two released in the 1960s, namely Konjum Salangai(1962) starring Gemini Ganesan and Thillana Mohanambal(1968) starring Sivaji Ganesan, featured nadasvaram playing characters. For the Konjum Salankai movie, Karukurichi Arunasalam Pillai provided the nadasvaram music. Madurai Sethuraman and Ponnusamy brothers were employed for the nadasvaram playing duo characters Sivaji Ganesan and A.V.M. Rajan for the Thillana Mohanambal movie director AP Nagarajan dedicated this movie to legend Karukurichi Arunachalam.

{{Portal|India|Music}}

• Tavil
• Stone nadasvaram

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/India/1191Nagaswaram/OttuNagaswaram.html Images from The Beede Gallery Shawms (Ottu and Nagaswaram), Southern India, ca. 1900-1940] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023451/http://orgs.usd.edu/nmm/India/1191Nagaswaram/OttuNagaswaram.html |date=4 March 2016 }}. National Music Museum, University of South Dakota.

{{Double reed}}

{{Indian musical instruments}}

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Category:Carnatic music instruments

Category:Single oboes with conical bore

Category:Indian musical instruments