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.
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.
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).