What is Veena?
The veena is one of the oldest musical instruments, associated with Saraswati – the Goddess of knowledge, art and learning. References to the veena go back to the Vedic times, where it is mentioned as one of the three principal instruments along with venu (flute) and mridangam.
As one of the oldest string instruments in Indian classical music, the veena has gone through several modifications over the centuries. Govinda Dikshitar, a royal musician in the Tanjore court, introduced 24 fixed frets in the veena, and Carnatic music owes much of its structure to this innovation as it paved the way for the development of the 72 melakartas scheme in the classification of ragas.
The current form is attributed to Raghunath Nayak (17th century) of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is a complete instrument, its mellow tones seamlessly blending shruti (music), laya (rhythm) and sahitya (lyrics of carnatic music).
Music veterans often say that a vocalist should acquire the art of playing the Veena if he or she were to become proficient in understanding the positions of the notes and the difference in shrutis, and to gain a better understanding of the science and aesthetics of Carnatic music. Several vocal musicians including M S Subbulakshmi, T N Seshagopalan and Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, play the Veena as well.
As one of the oldest string instruments in Indian classical music, the veena has gone through several modifications over the centuries. Govinda Dikshitar, a royal musician in the Tanjore court, introduced 24 fixed frets in the veena, and Carnatic music owes much of its structure to this innovation as it paved the way for the development of the 72 melakartas scheme in the classification of ragas.
The current form is attributed to Raghunath Nayak (17th century) of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is a complete instrument, its mellow tones seamlessly blending shruti (music), laya (rhythm) and sahitya (lyrics of carnatic music).
Music veterans often say that a vocalist should acquire the art of playing the Veena if he or she were to become proficient in understanding the positions of the notes and the difference in shrutis, and to gain a better understanding of the science and aesthetics of Carnatic music. Several vocal musicians including M S Subbulakshmi, T N Seshagopalan and Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, play the Veena as well.
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