Ravanhatta

The ravanhatta or ravanastron is a Vielle rustic Indian considered as the most primitive ancestor of the Violon and the Rabâb. According to the legend, he would have been invented into 3.000 before our era by Ravana, king of Ceylon.

Stringed-instrument trade

He consists of two cords in bowel of Gazelle granted to the Quinte, a rest, a Caisse of resonance out of coconut, a handle out of wooden, ankles and a bow in Bambou; this one is bored with the heel of a hole in which the wick stopped by a node and with the point passes, it is in a slit that comes to fix itself, by a node also, the other end of the wick. It is thus curved like an arc (with the difference of the modern bow). One notes the particular position of the bow: this one is blocked by the wick between the two cords, and one rubs one or the other of those according to whether one puts the bow forwards or backwards.

Play

This instrument is very played in the folklore of the the Rajasthan and by the itinerant musicians. He is played often upright, held against the chest, at the same time as the musician sings. He is sometimes accompanied by the Indian castanets Kartal.

Random links: