The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c11.271

c11.271

“What bagpipes are to Scotland or Ireland, these pipes are to India. Their sound is precisely similar to that of bagpipes, only, perhaps, more powerful, and in the hands of good players more melodious. They have seven and eight holes respectively, and thus would appear to have no great compass; but in execution, whether from the effects of the lips and tongue upon the reed mouthpiece, or the manner of fingering upon the holes, combinations are formed which include semitones and quarter notes, and thus the expression of chromatic passages ad libitum, of which the native players are very fond, is given, which in reality are very effective. From their great power of sound these pipes are unpleasant if the performers be near; but at a distance, in the open air, and specially among the mountains, the effect is much subdued, and often attains much wild beauty and softness. They are in fact the only regular outdoor instruments of Indian music, and are employed on all occasions, whether in domestic or public religious ceremonials, processions, or festivals, temple music, and the like; and the music played upon them varies with the occasion on which they are used. Marches and military music exceedingly like pibrochs in character—pieces for marriages, for rejoicings, for funerals, welcomings, departures—familiar ballad airs and the stated music of the Nahabet have all separate modes and effects. In the Mahratta country, in