Shehnai
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The shehnai is a musical instrument from the Indian subcontinent.<ref name=Grove>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> It is made of wood, with a double reed at one end and a metal or wooden flared bell at the other end.<ref name=EB>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref>Ranade. p. 307.</ref><ref>Hoiberg, p. 1</ref> It was one of the nine instruments found in the royal court.Template:Vague The shehnai is similar to South India's nadaswaram.
Characteristics
This tubular instrument gradually broadens towards the lower end. It usually has between six and nine holes. It employs one set of quadruple reeds, making it a quadruple reed woodwind. To master the instrument, the musician must employ various and intricate embouchure and fingering techniques.<ref name=EB/>
The shehnai has a range of two octaves, from the A below middle C to the A one line above the treble clef (A3 to A5 in scientific pitch notation). A shehnai is often but not always made with a body of wood or bamboo and a flared metal end.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Origin of the shehnai
The shehnai is thought to have been brought by the Mughal Empire as its use was most associated with the Mughal courts.
The counterparts to the shehnai played in Western India and Coastal Karnataka are indigenous to the territory. Shehnai players were/are an integral part of the Goan/Konkani region and the temples along the western coast and the players are called Vajantri and were allotted lands for services rendered to the temples.<ref name=goa>Template:Cite book</ref>
Music
The shehnai is played during religious festivities and wedding celebrations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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The Nepalese version, called the sahane, has a curve and is played in the panche baja. -
A shehnai player.
Notable Indian shehnai players
- Bismillah Khan
- Pandit Shailesh Bhagwat
- Anant Lal
- Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan
- S Ballesh Bhajantri
- Lokesh Anand
- Daya Shankar, son of Anant Lal
Other related wind instruments
- Mizmar, a shawm similar to the shehnai
- Nadaswaram, a similar South Indian instrument
- Reed instrument, a type of woodwind instrument
- Shawm, a type of reed instrument
Notes
References
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