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Musical roots of Assam

We, at Brahmaputra Cultural Foundation (BCF) are engaged in the process of creating a digital archive where we host the photographs, descriptions, audio and video recordings of indigenous musical instruments of Assam. These instruments are a major part of our folk culture. The Assamese culture is a synthesis and symbiosis of all the ethnic communities who live by the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra. Many musical instruments of the communities are similar in the making but their names differ across communities. The instruments fall into these 4 orders:

Membranophone: Wooden or metallic shell covered with animal hide or membrane and played by clapping with hand or striking with bamboo stick

Audiphone: Instruments made of metal, wood or bamboo and played by striking with a stick of similar material or with any hand

Aerophone: Instruments played by blowing with mouth or synchronising the flow of air through it

Cordophone: Instruments played by striking the string or rubbing with a bow

The Brahmaputra Cultural Heritage Centre, Guwahati has given the BCF the Attic Room to curate and we are honoured and grateful to have a physical space/a museum for the traditional instruments of the various ethnic communities of Assam.

This digital archive is in process. Below is a sample of one such instrument where we have – a short description about it, relevant pictures, an audio file showcasing it being played and (where available), a short video demonstration of its construction and playing style.

Many traditional musicians from rural Assam were commissioned to make instruments for the museum project by BCF, and it is evolving further due to a wonderful team of well-wishers, colleagues, informers and experts. We apologize for any faults, knowingly or unknowingly, done in this curation process. We hope the scholars, researchers and the younger generation will welcome our efforts towards curating such a physical and digital space. The diversified Assamese culture is enriched with innumerable folk dance, music and musical instruments. It is the right time to take appropriate steps to not to allow this rare wealth at any cost to dwindle away in the rapid waves of globalization, destruction and dilutions.

Here are the links to experience the different instruments according to the above mentioned categories. 

 

Here are the links to experience the different instruments according to different tribes. 

  • Assamese
  • Bodo
  • Gowalporiya
  • Hajong
  • Karbi
  • Mising
  • Moran
  • Rabha
  • Tea Tribe
  • Tiwa

Experience the detailed movies of the journey of the instruments

1. Ektara or Laotokari

It is made from a hollow bottle gourd (known in Assamese as ‘lao’) attached to a bifurcated bamboo cylinder closed at one end. The bottom of the gourd shell is covered with a thin hide fitted to the center with a Muga (traditional silk from Assam) thread extended up to a peg near the node of the bamboo handle. The thread is operated with forefinger of the right hand while the left hand pressing off and on the bamboo frame toward the node. It is used in almost every part of Assam. This instrument is accompanied with Dihanaam, Dehbisaror Geet and other devotional songs.

Feel the Music

Watch the process of making

2. Xutuli

From the shape and sound of Xutuli, it can be deduced that this instrument imitates birds. It is made of sticky soil. In Assamese culture during the festival of Bohag Bihu, Xutuli has an importance of its own. Initially, the cowboys (Gorokhiya lora) used Xutuli as a toy, because of ease of construction. Xutuli is played by both boys and girls in Bihu, but most importantly Xutuli is an indispensable part of Jeng Bihu and Bihuwati dances, and predominantly played by girls. The Karbi community calls it Torlit and it is made in the imitation of the sound of the cicada to invoke rain. The Karbi young boys play the Torlit to amuse in their slash-and-burn cultivation. The Rabha community calls it Gugubela or Gugumela and is made of sticky soil in hemispherical shape. It is played by cowherds in leisure time of cultivation.

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Watch the process of making

3. Kortal

Kortal is made of a piece of bamboo about half cubit long bifurcated and levelled. It is played by placing it in the palm in accompanying devotional music. Amongst the different classification of musical instruments, the Kortal can be called an Audiophone

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Watch the process of making

4. Dhutong

Dhutong of the Morans is made from one year old bamboo variety called “Jati Bah” in Assam. The nodes and outer rinds are cleared off and made thinner. Then it is baked for a while. One of the open ends is placed on the abdomen and struck twice with a bamboo stick about 1 foot long. By repetition of the process a sweet musical sound “Tung-tung-tang-tang” is produced. In earlier days it used to one of the main instruments of folk festivals. The Deoris call this instrument Denthou and is played by cowherds. Dumpak by the Misings is made from the bamboo cylinder with node at one end and played with a bamboo stick or fingers. The end with the node is scrapped slightly on one side and is struck with the stick/fingers to emit various sounds. It is accompanied with Ai-nitam, Lotta-choman and Lereli choman festivals. The Deoris call it Dhultong.

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Watch the process of making

5. Kodital or Ghilatal

It is an Audiophone instrument, it is made of a small bamboo spike about 3 feet long to be grasped with the hand. Small calibres are cut at half inch intervals. It is dragged across a cowrie shell holding in the left-hand palm to emit musical sound in accompaniment with devotional songs. In the Hajong tribe the cowrie is substituted with entada (Ghila).

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Watch the process of making

6. Baghdhenu

Baghdhenu (Cross-Bow) is made of a spike of light bamboo about 2/3 ft. long. When the bamboo spike is twirled over the head by holding the second piece of bamboo stick (about 1 foot long) or just the rope, it emits a sound. The Misings call it “Bu-Bung”. Though it is not accompanied with any type of music it is believed that when played, rain is invoked

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Watch the process of making

7. Anandalohari or Gopiyantra

From the shape and sound of Xutuli, it can be deduced that this instrument imitates birds. It is made of sticky soil. In Assamese culture during the festival of Bohag Bihu, Xutuli has an importance of its own. Initially, the cowboys (Gorokhiya lora) used Xutuli as a toy, because of ease of construction. Xutuli is played by both boys and girls in Bihu, but most importantly Xutuli is an indispensable part of Jeng Bihu and Bihuwati dances, and predominantly played by girls. The Karbi community calls it Torlit and it is made in the imitation of the sound of the cicada to invoke rain. The Karbi young boys play the Torlit to amuse in their slash-and-burn cultivation. The Rabha community calls it Gugubela or Gugumela and is made of sticky soil in hemispherical shape. It is played by cowherds in leisure time of cultivation.

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Watch the process of making

8. Tengteng

Tengteng is a folk instrument of Assam, made of a piece of bamboo having nodes at either end. Two strips of bark from one side of the cylinder is taken removing and scrapping the remaining parts in between. Then bamboo ridges are made at each end of the strips. It is played with a small bamboo stick. This instrument of the Cowherd is not seen now a days.

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Watch the process of making

9. Samuk taal

Samuk-tal is 3 or 4 pair of snail shells tied to a bamboo splinter. They are played with a small bamboo stick to emit a sound. Almost all Hajong tribal ceremonies are attended with Samuk-tal.

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10. Kichok Benu

Kichokbenu (Cordophone) is a bamboo cylinder with nodes at both ends stripped off it’s outer rind. A bridge is passed across the smooth portion and is played with a bow like a herp. It is now extinct.

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Watch the process of making

11. Rogoi Dang

Rogoidang (Audiphone) is one of those instruments of the Tea-Tribes that are obsolete now. It is made of the bigger size of the Dolu-Bah or from Bhuluka-Bah (both are varieties of locally found bamboo in Assam). It is used in all festivities, Song and Dance and as an accompaniment to the leading instrument called Madol.

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Watch the process of making

12. Daskathiya

Daskathiya (Audiphone) is made from two bamboo strips about 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. It is accompanied with devotional songs of the Tea-tribes

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Watch the process of making