The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c11.211

c11.211

THE Mridang, or Mathala, considered to be the most ancient of the Indian drums, is commonly employed by musicians in Southern India as an accompaniment to their songs and instrumental performances. It consists of a hollow shell of wood, larger at one end than the other, and upon which are stretched two heads of skin, fastened to wooden hoops and strained by leather braces interlaced and passing the length of the Mridang. Small pieces of wood placed between the shell and braces serve to tune the instrument. The two heads are tuned to the tonic and fourth or fifth, according to whether the music is to be in Madhyama or Panchāma s'ruti. The centre of the smaller head of this peculiar drum is coated with a composition of resin, oil, and wax; and, by way of ornament, an embroidered cloth is commonly stretched upon the upper side of the shell.