Understanding Arts and Arts Education (Theory) Block : Art Education

 71
Performing Art Practical
Block 1 : Art Education
Notes
Gradually with different shapes and sizes of mud vessels , wooden vessels
and pots coming up like Spherical pots, shallow pans, long necked jars,
when covered become different rhythmic musical instruments. That is how
we see Edaikka,(one mouthed) Tabla- two pieces, Dhol (open from two
sides)etc. Some are played with the palm and
fingers, others are struck with sticks. Some
instruments are
Dhol…………Punjab
Naal………..Maharashtra
Dhak………..Bengal
Hudka……..Himachal Pradesh
Dappu…….Andhra Pradesh
Idiophones (Percussion Instruments) - GHANA VADYA
Human beings used pots and pans in their
homes . In this process these pots and pans
clashed against each other which sometimes
produced a sound pleasing to the ear .This
paved the way for stone, wood and clay to
become mediums of musical or rhythmic
expression. As already casted utensils were
a natural beginning to musical expression
Thaali ,ghatam ,daand ,such instruments should be the primary instruments .These
have been termed as ghanavadyas or idiophones. Ghana meaning solid .Ghana
vadyas are usually made of metal, wood, clay as they are solid in structure.
Dandia ,manjeera, ghanta, ghunghroos, ghatam are some of the ghanavadya
instruments.
Some of the observations regarding these instruments are –
ƒ
Indeed any two pieces of solid struck or rubbed together can become an
idiophone.
ƒ
These have evolved from basic materials used by human beings like pots,
pans ,dandas used in the kitchen or for personal security . “weaning away
from this material culture to musical uses and specialization is at a later
stage says the eminent musicologist B.C.Deva”
ƒ
They acquire a definite pitch at the time of their casting or carving, which
can be heard and analyzed only after they have been struck.

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