The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c11.293

c11.293

The Kurna—called in Southern India Buruga or Banku—is used only on solemn occasions, and possesses but a few hoarse sounds. In fact, no Indian trumpets are capable of producing many notes, they are invariably of the most primitive description, and no attempt is made to play them scientifically : indeed, their proper compass is not even understood. Colonel Meadows Taylor, speaking of the Kurna, remarks: "These instruments are almost invariably played by Brahmins or priests attached to Hindu temples, and by persons attached to the retinues of Gurus, Swâmies or spiritual princes of the country, who possess large ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and are provided with them as a mark of high rank, which is not allowable in others. Occasionally also they are met with in the nobuts, or musical establishments attached by royal permission to nobles of high rank, Mahomedan as well as Hindu; but they do not exist in all cases, for there are distinctions in the classes of instruments according to the rank of persons privileged to play the nobut, which involve the presence or otherwise of the kurna. The kurna, or large trumpet, is esteemed by all Brahmins to be the most ancient instrument of music in existence."²⁰