Sursingar

Sursingar is an ancient musical instrument that has been an integral part of Hindustani classical music for centuries. Also known as Surshringar or Sursringar, the instrument resembles the sarod but has a deeper sound. It is considered to be one of the rarest and most difficult instruments to play due to its complex tuning and intricate techniques.

Design and Sound of Sursingar

The Sursingar has a wooden body with a gourd attached, which helps to amplify its sound. It has four brass or bronze strings that are plucked with a metal pick. The strings are attached to tuning pegs at the bottom of the instrument, which can be adjusted to create different pitches. The Sursingar can be played in various positions, either held vertically or parallel to the ground like a sarod or at an angle like a sitar.

The sound of the Sursingar is characterized by its deep, rich, and resonant tone, which is particularly suited to the Dhrupad genre of Hindustani classical music. Dhrupad is a style of singing that emphasizes the lower register of the voice, and the Sursingar is the perfect accompaniment for this style due to its deep sound.

Revival of Sursingar

The Sursingar is no longer widely used in Hindustani classical music due to a lack of artisans who can make the instrument. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the Sursingar, and efforts have been made to revive the instrument. One of the main proponents of the Sursingar revival is the famous artist Joydeep Mukherjee, who has worked tirelessly to promote the instrument and its unique sound.

Mukherjee has collaborated with other musicians to create new compositions that feature the Sursingar, and he has also trained a new generation of musicians in the art of playing the instrument. He has also worked closely with artisans to help them improve their techniques and create high-quality instruments that can meet the demands of modern musicians.

The Radhika Mohanaveena

Another instrument that has played a significant role in the revival of the Sursingar is the Radhika Mohanaveena. The Radhika Mohanaveena is a hybrid instrument that combines the Sursingar and the Mohan Veena, a modern instrument created by the famous musician Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. The Radhika Mohanaveena has a similar design to the Sursingar, but it has additional sympathetic strings and a unique slide mechanism that allows the player to create gliding notes.

The Radhika Mohanaveena has been widely embraced by musicians and audiences alike, and it has helped to bring the unique sound of the Sursingar to a wider audience. The instrument has also inspired a new generation of musicians to explore the possibilities of the Sursingar and to incorporate its rich, deep sound into their compositions.