Description:
The Sahnai, or [Shanai, Shehnai] or Mangal Vadya, is a double-reed
aerophone it is found in both North and South India. The shenai can be
historically linked to a Central Asian instrument called a “naubat”
that was played in military bands. In Rajashan the shenai is
accompanied by the Dukar-Tikar (a type of kettle drum) both are played
in the Naqara genre. The sound of the shenai is auspicious, as a result
it is used in North India for weddings, ceremonial procession, lunar
occasions and festivals. In South India the Nadaswaram is closely
identical to the shenai, accept for the volume and length. The name
shenai has derived from several words, these include [Saina] the name
its player [she] meaning “breath” and [nai] meaning flute. In the
Persian language the name shenai means [king] and [flute] or “the
king's flute”. Along time ago a shah had banned the punji in his court
due to its shrill sound. So a barber belonging to a family of musicians
is thought to improve the shenai from the punji. In the 1960s the
Shenai found its self in the Wonderwall recording by George Harrison
who introduced the shenai to its Western audiences.
Playing Techniques:
Traditionally the shenai is played in pairs, the first shenai is a lead
instrument and the [sur] is a drone instrument. Both of these
instruments would often be accompanied by percussion. In the hands of a
masterful player the shenai can express great subtleties in the
performance. When learning the shenai a student undergoes long hours of
practice, a lot of patience, circular breathing and a good set of lungs
are required to fully master this instrument.
Anatomy of the Shenai:
The Shenai is constructed from a concical wooden bore that is
approximately 50 centimeters in length. Shenai shorter to longer size
in length. A metal bell often of brass is affixed to the bottom end. On
the top end of the instrument a hollow thin metal tube is inserted in
the instrument. The shenai has roughly 7 to 8 fingerholes and no
thumb-hole. A cane reed is tied together and placed onto the mandrel.
This is acheived by tying the cane reed together after the reed has
been cut and folded in a particular manner. Multiple coloured thread is
wrapped around the tubing for ornamentation.