The Changing Ecology of the Kolkata Tanpura

Bhattacharyya, Budhaditya

Abstract

The tanpura, a long-necked, unfretted, stringed lute, is arguably one of the most important instruments used by Hindustani classical vocalists. This ethnographic study draws from the lived experiences of luthiers and farmers specialising in crafting tanpuras. Auto-ethnographic reflections as a vocalist of this tradition also feed into this piece. Studying the effects of various phenomena, including evolving agricultural and climatic conditions in gourd fields and increasing scarcity of raw materials, the article underlines how it affects the sonic and visual profile of the instrument, thereby gradually transforming Hindustani classical sound at a very fundamental level.

Citation

Bhattacharyya, B. (2022). The Changing Ecology of the Kolkata Tanpura. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, 45(6), 1095-1111. https://doi.org/10.1080/00856401.2022.2118480

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Oct 2, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 9, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2023
• Journal: South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies
• Print ISSN: 0085-6401
• Electronic ISSN: 1479-0270
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1095-1111
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00856401.2022.2118480
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1186475