Sarangi

The Sarangi is the premier bowed instrument of North Indian music. It became popular in the mid-17th century as an accompaniment to vocal singing. Though it is very popular to this date, the harmonium has an edge over it. The Sarangi consists of a squat, truncated body which is hollow and is made of teak wood and decorated with ivory inlays. It has a sound board of goat skin and three main playing strings of heavy gut, which are bowed. The Sarangi has 40 strings, of which 37 are sympathetic, which gives it the special sound effect. The Sarangi is held in a vertical position and played with a bow. To play it, one must press the fingernails of the left hand against the strings. Famous Sarangi maestros are Rehman Bakhs, Pt Ram Narayan, Ghulam Sabir and Ustad Sultan Khan.

Due to its adaptability to various musical styles, flexible tuning, and ability to produce intense emotions, it is called Sarangi, which means "hundred colors." According to Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, "The sarangi remains not only the authentic and original Indian bowed stringed instrument but the one which... expresses the very soul of Indian feeling and thought." Measures 7.5" width by 5.5" height.