Sitar

The sitar is a Indian Musical instrument with cords pinches. It is a Luth with long Manche, symbol of the Indian Musique, created according to the legend by Amir Kushrau, in XIVè century. This simple version with three cords derived from the Persian Tambur, was to receive with the wire of the centuries of installations. To the XVIIIè century a fourth cord was added, then with the XIXè century, the tarafs , cords sympathetic nerves, and the imposing form, to play in the durbar , the Courses of the kings.

Stringed-instrument trade

Composed of a hemispherical Case of resonance in gourd ( tumba ) and of a broad hollow handle (cut in Tun or Teak), provided with curved and removable hoops, on the back of which a small resonator out of wooden is fixed, the sitar is a complex lute. It dispoose indeed of two rests, whose main thing (on foot and audessus of the other) is flat, allowing the buzz characteristic ( jawari ) of the Indian instruments. Multiple influences added the rhythmic cords of bumblebees to him cikârî , as on the Bîn , then cords sympathetic nerves. Lastly, it is an instrument very decorated, by brackets of bone or ivory on the handle, and of the low reliefs on the resonators. Small pearls allow also a fine agreement.

Ratna Rahimat Khan made evolve/move the general shape of the instrument, adapting resonators out of water-bottle larger than of accustomed and sand-gravel mixxer cords which allowed him âlâps closer to those played on the bîn , more serious instrument.

This type of sitar comprises 13 cords sympathetic nerves granted according to the notes of the Râga, 3 cords of play (MY SA Pa) granted to allow the play on 3 octaves, a fourth which allows effects on a fourth low octave ( kharaj ). Finally three cords of rhythmic bumblebee (cikârî) are granted on the tonic acute. It is the instrument played by Ravi Shankar.

Ustad Imdad khan developed a smaller sitar, conceived for virtuosity. It does not reach any more the low octave (kharaj) and it has only 11 cords sympathetic nerves. Its cords of play are granted in MY SA GA øA and its two cords of rate/rhythm are in SA. It is the instrument played by Vilayat Khan.

Play

One plays sitted as a tailor by ground, the instrument fixed under the right elbow, rests about it by ground (sometimes on the foot). Like the Guitar Flamenco, it is held with the oblique (and not right or lying like the Tampura). The sitarist uses of a metal miter ( mezrab ) on the right index to grip the cords. He does it by initially posing his inch on the bottom of the handle, just in top of the principal water-bottle. Then in a back and forth pass (with the manner of sound ancètre the Setar) he plays alternatively the principal and rhythmic cords.

There exists many techniques of ornament (like the krintans ) specific. The little finger of the left hand cherishes also sometimes the cords sympathetic nerves. The technique evolves/moves still today.

It is the principal instrument of the Khyal, music Hindustani traditional of India of North.

During the Years 1960 - 70, the interest shown by the occident for the spirituality of India extends to the musical field. The movement psychedelic in particular integrates Asian sonorities gradually and the sitar makes its appearance on the albums of the greatest groups of popular music of the moment (in particular, the Rolling Stones or the Beatles).

The Indian music knows a certain passion consequently, in particular with the the United States where Ravi Shankar appears in festivals rock'n'roll (in particular that of Monterey in 1967). Today, a new generation of sitarists occurs in India, in Pakistan, and in countries like Canada and thePlain ones.

Recognized Sitarists

  • Ravi Shankar
  • Vilayat Khan
  • Nikhil Banerjee
  • Imdad Khan
  • Enayat Khan
  • Mushtaq Ali Khan
  • Imrat Khan
  • Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan
  • Ray Khan
  • Shahid Parvez
  • Budhaditya Mukherjee
  • Manilal Nag
  • Sanjoy Bandopadhyay
  • Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh
  • Anjan Chattopadhyay
  • Partha Bump
  • Kushal KUMAR Das
  • Purbayan Chatterjee
  • Debu Chowdhuri
  • Anoushka Shankar
  • Amelia Maciszewski
  • Shujaat Khan
  • Aloke Dasgupta
  • Hameed Khan
  • George Harrison, of the Beatles

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