Kanjira
Encyclopedia
The kanjira, khanjira or ganjira, a South India
n frame drum
, is an instrument of the tambourine
family. It is used primarily in concerts of Carnatic music
(South Indian classical music) as a supporting instrument for the mridangam. The kanjira have been used since 1880's, and was added to classical concerts during the 1930s.
Similar to the Western tambourine
, it consists of a circular frame made of the wood of the jackfruit
tree, between 7 and 9 inches in width and 2 to 4 inches in depth. It is covered on one side with a drumhead
made of monitor lizard
skin (specifically the Bengal monitor
, Varanus bengalensis, now an endangered species in India
), while the other side is left open. The frame has a single slit which contain three to four small metal discs—often old coins—that jingle when the kanjira is played.
The kanjira is a relatively difficult Indian drum to play, especially in South Indian Carnatic music, for reasons including the complexity of the percussion patterns used in Indian music. It is normally played with the palm and fingers of the right hand, while the left hand supports the drum. The fingertips of the left hand can be used to bend the pitch by applying pressure near the outer rim. It is not tuned to any particular pitch
, unlike the mridangam or the ghatam
.
Normally, without tuning, it has a very high pitched sound. To get a good bass sound, the performer reduces the tension of the drumhead by sprinkling water on the inside of the instrument. This process may have to be repeated during a concert to maintain a good sound. However, if the instrument is too moist, it will have a dead tone, requiring 5–10 minutes to dry. Tone is also affected by external temperature and moisture conditions. Performers typically carry a couple of kanjiras so that they can keep at least one in perfectly tuned condition at any given time.
Pudukottai Manpoondia Pillai, Dakshinamurthy Pillai, H. P. Ramachar, Mayavaram Somusundaram, C. K. Shyam Sundar, Thirukadaiyur T. K. Dakshinamoorthy, V. Nagarajan.
, N. Ganeshkumar, K. S. Rangachari, K. V. R. S. Mani, C. P. Vyasa Vittala, C. S. Venkatramanan, Abhishek Raghuram, Alathur T. Rajaganesh, B. S. Purushotham, Guru Raghavendra, Latha Ramachar, Nerkunam S. Sankar, Neyveli B. Venkatesh, Papanasam S. Sethuraman, Thenkasi H. Paramasivam, Thiruvayur Saikrishnan, Thrikakkara Y. N. Shantharam, Tirupur G. Sridhar Kumar, Trichy V. V. S. Manian.
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
n frame drum
Frame drum
A frame drum is a drum that has a drumhead width greater than its depth. Usually the single drumhead is made of rawhide or man-made materials. Shells are traditionally constructed of bent wood scarf jointed together; plywood and man-made materials are also used. Some frame drums have mechanical...
, is an instrument of the tambourine
Tambourine
The tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
family. It is used primarily in concerts of Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
(South Indian classical music) as a supporting instrument for the mridangam. The kanjira have been used since 1880's, and was added to classical concerts during the 1930s.
Similar to the Western tambourine
Tambourine
The tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, it consists of a circular frame made of the wood of the jackfruit
Jackfruit
The jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
tree, between 7 and 9 inches in width and 2 to 4 inches in depth. It is covered on one side with a drumhead
Drumhead
A drumhead is a membrane stretched over one or both of the open ends of a drum. The drumhead is struck with sticks, mallets, or hands so that it vibrates and the sound resonates through the drum.-History:...
made of monitor lizard
Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards are usually large reptiles, although some can be as small as in length. They have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. Most species are terrestrial, but arboreal and semiaquatic monitors are also known...
skin (specifically the Bengal monitor
Bengal monitor
The Bengal monitor or common Indian monitor, is a monitor lizard found widely distributed over South Asia. This large lizard is mainly terrestrial, and grows to about 175 cm from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail...
, Varanus bengalensis, now an endangered species in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), while the other side is left open. The frame has a single slit which contain three to four small metal discs—often old coins—that jingle when the kanjira is played.
The kanjira is a relatively difficult Indian drum to play, especially in South Indian Carnatic music, for reasons including the complexity of the percussion patterns used in Indian music. It is normally played with the palm and fingers of the right hand, while the left hand supports the drum. The fingertips of the left hand can be used to bend the pitch by applying pressure near the outer rim. It is not tuned to any particular pitch
Pitch (music)
Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
, unlike the mridangam or the ghatam
Ghatam
The ghaṭam is a percussion instrument used in the Carnatic music of South India. Its analogue in Rajasthan is known as the madga and pani mataqa "water jug"....
.
Normally, without tuning, it has a very high pitched sound. To get a good bass sound, the performer reduces the tension of the drumhead by sprinkling water on the inside of the instrument. This process may have to be repeated during a concert to maintain a good sound. However, if the instrument is too moist, it will have a dead tone, requiring 5–10 minutes to dry. Tone is also affected by external temperature and moisture conditions. Performers typically carry a couple of kanjiras so that they can keep at least one in perfectly tuned condition at any given time.
Past
- G HarishankarG HarishankarShri G. Harishankar, was an Indian kanjira player. the kanjira being a tambourine used in the Carnatic music of South India...
is widely considered to have been the greatest kanjira artist ever to have played this instrument.
Pudukottai Manpoondia Pillai, Dakshinamurthy Pillai, H. P. Ramachar, Mayavaram Somusundaram, C. K. Shyam Sundar, Thirukadaiyur T. K. Dakshinamoorthy, V. Nagarajan.
Present
B. Shree Sundar Kumar, N. Amrit, V. SelvaganeshV. Selvaganesh
V. Selvaganesh is an Indian percussionist working in the Carnatic tradition, and is one of the leading kanjira player of his generation. He is also known as "Chella S. Ganesh."-Early life:...
, N. Ganeshkumar, K. S. Rangachari, K. V. R. S. Mani, C. P. Vyasa Vittala, C. S. Venkatramanan, Abhishek Raghuram, Alathur T. Rajaganesh, B. S. Purushotham, Guru Raghavendra, Latha Ramachar, Nerkunam S. Sankar, Neyveli B. Venkatesh, Papanasam S. Sethuraman, Thenkasi H. Paramasivam, Thiruvayur Saikrishnan, Thrikakkara Y. N. Shantharam, Tirupur G. Sridhar Kumar, Trichy V. V. S. Manian.