PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Tabla is a pair of drums. It consists of a small right hand drum called dayan and a larger metal one called bayan.The dayan (right hand drum) is almost always made of wood. The bayan (left hand drum) may be made of iron, aluminium, copper, steel, or clay. Undoubtedly the most striking characteristic of the tabla is the large black spot on each of the playing surfaces. These black spots are a mixture of gum, soot, and iron filings. Their function is to create the bell-like timbre that is characteristic of the instrument. The tabla is played solo for all kind of folk music in Pakistan.
Sitar is perhaps the most well known of the instruments in folk music. Sitar is a long necked instrument with an interesting construction. It has a varying number of strings but 17 is usual. It has three to four playing strings and three to four drone strings. The approach to tuning is somewhat similar to Indian stringed instruments. These strings are plucked with a wire finger plectrum called mizrab. There are also a series of sympathetic strings lying under the frets. These strings are almost never played but they vibrate whenever the corresponding note is sounded. The frets are metal rods which have been bent into crescents. The main resonator is usually made of a gourd and there is sometimes an additional resonator attached to the neck.
The harmonium is a keyboard instrument. Thin metal tongues vibrate to a steady current of air produced by pumping the bellows. The harmonium has a three-octave keyboard. In Pakistan, the harmonium is very popular as an accompaniment to solo singing and Qawwali singing.
The shahnai is a double-reed wind instrument consisting of a hollow tube to which a plate of bell metal is fitted.The shahnai is an instrument for occasions of joy and festivity. It was originated from Kashmir. A shahnai player typically belongs to a professional group of musicians and performers traditionally called mirasi.
A percussion instrument consisting of a small drumhead with jingling disks fitted into the rim. The tambourine can be held in the hand or mounted on a stand, and can be played in numerous ways, from stroking or shaking the jingles to striking it sharply with the hand or a stick.
