Krsna Kirtana Songs est.
2001 www.kksongs.org
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Esraj
The esraj is a bowed
stringed instrument used in Northeast and central India. This is essentially a
cross between a sitar, sarangi, and sarod. It contains the neck and fretting style of the
sitar, the soundboard similar to the sarod, and the
playing action of the sarangi. This instrument was
created to alleviate the difficulties that arise when playing sarangi. For example, this instrument’s strings are all
metal, as opposed to sarangi’s gut strings. A great
majority of playing can be done on one string, as opposed to two or sometimes
three strings with sarangi. The frets help one locate
notes. While the moveable frets of the esraj are
similar to those of a sitar, it does not arch very high and it does not
function for ornamentation. Ornamentation is achieved by sliding up and down
the fingerboard.
This instrument is most an accompanying instrument,
although it is slowly gaining its reputation as a potential solo instrument.
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS:
UPDATED: March 12, 2012