Ektara

This article is about a modern one-stringed musical instrument. For a medieval one-stringed musical instrument, see Ekatantri veena. For the rural municipality in Nepal, see Ekdara. For the album by Kuldeep Manak, see Ik Tara. For 2009 Indian film song, see Iktara (song). For the 2015 Indian film, see Ek Tara.
Ektara played by Baul Sufis in West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh

The ektara (Bengali: একতারা, Hindi: एकतारा, Urdu: اِک تارا, Nepali: एकतारे, Punjabi: ਇਕ ਤਾਰਾ, Tamil: எக்டரா; literally 'one-string', also called actara, iktar, ektar, Sindhi: يڪتارو, yaktaro, gopichand, gopichant, golki Nepali: गोल्, gopijiantra, tun tuna) is a one-stringed musical instrument used in the traditional music of the Indian subcontinent,[1] and used in modern-day music of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.[1]

Two-stringed versions are called dotara (two strings), a name which also applies to other instruments.

In origin, the ektara was a regular string instrument of wandering bards and minstrels and is plucked with one finger. The ektara is a drone lute consisting of a gourd resonator covered with skin, through which a bamboo neck is inserted. Ektara is commonly played by folk singers, bauls, Bengali folk Vaishnava saints and Bengali fakirs (Muslim devotees).[2] It is used in parts of India and Nepal today by Yogis and wandering holy men to accompany their singing and prayers. In Nepal, the instrument accompanies the singing of the Ramayana and Mahabharata.[3]

Performance

Grove Music Online describes the playing of an ektara as: "The ektārā player holds his instrument upright, gripping the neck just above the resonator and plucking the playing string or strings with the index finger of the same hand. If he is dancing, he supports the gourd resonator with his other hand, in which he carries clusters of small bells which sound as he beats his hand against the gourd."[4] Pressing the two halves of the neck together loosens the string, thus lowering its pitch. The modulation of the tone with each slight flexing of the neck gives the ektara its distinctive sound. There are no markings or measurements to indicate what pressure will produce what note, so the pressure is adjusted by ear.[5] The various sizes of ektara are soprano, tenor, and bass. The bass ektara, sometimes called a dotara often has two strings[6] (as literally implied by do, 'two').

Use

The ektara is a common instrument in Baul music from Bengal. Some controversy has arisen in recent years over the adoption and alleged corruption of Baul music by popular bands and films in Bengal. It has become common to mix traditional instruments like the ektara with more modern sounds in an attempt to appeal to a wide audience, which according to Purna Das Baul is "destroying the true beauty" of Baul music.[7]

Kirtan and Sufi chanting

See also: Music of Bengal, Sufism, and Vaishnavism

The ektara is commonly used in kirtan chanting, a Hindu devotional practice of singing the divine names and mantras in an ecstatic call and response format.[8] The ektara is used by Sadhus (wandering holy men) for Sufi chanting, as well as by the Bauls of Bengal.[9]

  • Parvathy Baul at Ruhaniyat mystic music festival, at Purana Qila, Delhi
    Parvathy Baul at Ruhaniyat mystic music festival, at Purana Qila, Delhi
  • Ektara of Bangladesh
    Ektara of Bangladesh
  • Musician from Bangladesh playing the Ektara
    Musician from Bangladesh playing the Ektara
  • Photographer labeled photo "Ektara", location unknown.
    Photographer labeled photo "Ektara", location unknown.
  • The tradition of a holy man with a one-stringed veena was preserved in this 16th-18th century C.E. sculpture of Sage Agastya. The instrument has some resemblance to the eka-tantri vina, also one-stringed.
    The tradition of a holy man with a one-stringed veena was preserved in this 16th-18th century C.E. sculpture of Sage Agastya. The instrument has some resemblance to the eka-tantri vina, also one-stringed.
  • India, 5th century C.E. Ajanta Caves, Cave 17. Image of a one-string drone accompanying religious singing. The musician plucks an alapini vina, a stick-zither style veena resting on his shoulder.
    India, 5th century C.E. Ajanta Caves, Cave 17. Image of a one-string drone accompanying religious singing. The musician plucks an alapini vina, a stick-zither style veena resting on his shoulder.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Dilip Ranjan Barthakur (2003). The Music and Musical Instruments of North Eastern India. Mittal Publications. pp. 129–. ISBN 978-81-7099-881-5.
  2. ^ https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Ektara
  3. ^ Kadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 220, 229. ISBN 978-9994688302.
  4. ^ Babiracki, Carol M.; Dick, Alastair; Helffer, Mireille (20 January 2001). "Ektār". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.51699. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  5. ^ "Ektara". Musical Instruments Archives. Archived from the original on 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  6. ^ Lillian Henry. "What is Kirtan Music". Entertainment Scene 360. Archived from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  7. ^ "Baul Songs - From Ektara to Fusion Music". INdo-Asian News Service. 2011. Retrieved 2014-09-24.
  8. ^ "Kirtan". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2014-09-16.
  9. ^ "Stringed Instruments". Gandharva Loka. Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-09-16.