Museumofworldmusic.com

Instruments

India

Name: Shenai.

Type: Double Reed > Aerophones.

Region: India > South East Asia.

Dimensions: Length 42.4 cm.

Acquisition Date: Circa year 2005.

Acquisition Source: Ian MacKenzie, from trip to India and Nepal.

ShenaiDescription: 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.

 

 

Citations: asza.com [Shanai Article] > Chandrakantha.com [Shenai article] >