Name: Bin or Punji.
Type: Free Reed > Aerophones.
Region: India > Pakistan > South Asia.
Dimensions: Length
Acquisition Date:
Acquisition Source: Ian MacKenzie, from trip to Rajasthan India.
Description: The
Bin or Punji is a free-reed aerophone that is found in many different
regions throughout India. Circular breathing is required to play the
bin. The bin is either accompanied by other bin's or or often by
percussion or they maybe played solo. The alternative name punji is in
common use along side the name bin. The word “Bin” is generic for
musical instrument. The bin can be found throughout the Indian
diaspora. Traditional the bin is associated with the iconic image of
snake charmers. When the snake is charmed the snake does not hear the
sound, rather the snake feels the vibrations when the bin is played.
The components of the bin, include the main body being a gourd, the two
pipes and each pipe contains a single reed. Both pipes six finger
holes. The second pipe functions as a drone. Beeswax is used to support
the bamboo pipes affixed into the gourd. A type of cereal cane is used
to make the pipes. The holes are carved and burnt with a hot piece of
met. The length of the punji does vary and can range from 30 to 60cm.