Newar merchants of Kathmandu, Nepal parading in Lhasa, Tibet playing drums in 1903.
This list contains "traditional" musical instruments used in Nepal. Instruments overlap with nearby countries, including India and Tibet. An example is the Sarangi, a common bow Indian instrument. Although the Nepali people have their own local variant Sarangi (Nepal), both instruments are known in Nepal. Some of the instrument are madal,[1]maddlam, dholak. In such cases where instruments were imported in ancient times, or when both varieties are played in Nepal, both can be included on the list. New instruments of Nepali origin may be included, as well as modern recreations of " extinct " instruments. Modern imports such as the western guitar are not included.
Nepal ethnic groups (note that Kulu Rodu (Kulung) territories are mistakenly marked as Tamu/Gurung territories in this map)
There are hundreds of Nepali musical instruments and they are not standardized. When considering seemingly identical instruments, the languages, region of origin, musician's ethnicity and local traditions may affect the instrument's identity and how it is played.
Modern sculpture of the Hindu Goddess Saraswati with an unnamed lute-style veena in Kathmandu. Images like this give clues to the nature of old musical instruments, if the artifact can be reliably placed to a particular place and past date.
Many Nepali folk instruments [2] or lokabaja (नेपाली लोकबाजा) date back into prehistory or inaccessible history. General histories of musical instruments, such as History of Musical Instruments by Kurt Sachs, have little to say directly about Nepal. Sachs focused two chapters on India, and when addressing the ranasrnga, on Northern India. When instruments used in Nepal were included in Sachs' book, such as drums with hooked sticks (p. 157), the dameru (p. 159), the lute with a barb on its sides (160–161), the sarangi (226), and the ranasrnga (p. 228), the organizational focus was on India, or "North India."
JSTORE, an online repository of academic journals has articles. An example by Thomas O. Ballinger and Purna Harsha Bajracharya, Nepalese Musical Instruments, Southwestern Journal of Anthropology, Published by: The University of Chicago Press, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Winter, 1960), pp. 398–416 (19 pages). Thomas compares the instruments he found with that found in books by A. Campbell and Daniel Wright. Gives descriptions of instruments.
History of Nepal, by Daniel Wright, Cambridge: University Press, 1877.
Notes on the Musical Instruments and Agricultural and Other Instruments of the Nepalese, by A. Campbell, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Vol. 6 (1837), pp. 953-963.
The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments is a more comprehensive resource, with many instruments having been documented by ethnomusicologists. Random entries for Nepali instruments include Arbajo, Damaha, the Kingdom of Nepal [and its instruments and international music relationships] and the ghanta (both large "male" bells and smaller "female" handbells). This resource requires either a subscription (not inexpensive), access to a university library, or purchase of the $995 set of books.[3]
The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music, Volume 5: South Asia, the Indian subcontinent does address Nepal directly in a chapter.[4]
Museum and museum catalogs: In 1995, a local project was begun in Nepal, to document the folk instruments there. Ram Prasad Kadel began to visit different parts of his country and collect examples of instruments that he found. He talked to musicians and made recordings. In 1997, he founded the Nepali Folk Instruments Museum, which opened to the public in 2002 in Kathmandu. Kadel wrote two books, catalogues of some of the museum's instruments. Nepali Lokbaja or Folk Musical Instruments of Nepal was published in 2004. The Nepali-language book contains entries and images for 375 instruments. The language made the contents inaccessible to most readers outside Nepal. In 2007 Kadel's Musical Instruments of Nepal was published, an English-language book with 362 Nepali instruments and more detailed pictures. The book is the only book in the English language whose focus is Nepali folk musical instruments. Today his museum has more than 40,000 hours of recordings.
Frame drum 28 centimeters diameter, covered with goathide held in place by bamboo lathes piercing skin and hoop across to the other side of the hoop, decorated with peacock feathers on top.[5]
Variety of damphu. Frame drum made of Koirala wood and Himalayan goral hide on one side held in place by 32 bamboo lathes. 45 cm diameter. May be decorated by the carving of a Himalayan monal bird on top.[5][7]Dambaa (back side)
frame drum, tambourine sized.[8] Used in Bansuri Bajan or Khin Bajan.[6]
Hring
हृङ
Frame drum, with single goatskin head, 45 centimeters diameter, religious (Tantric Buddhist) symbols hanging on a chain.[5] Originally used by Chepang people living in the mountains of Mahabharata mountain range, used for jharphuk (healing ritual) and tantramantra.[9][10]
Khaijadi tambourine with mujura (मुजुरा) cymbals.[8] An instrument may have as many as four holes in its sides, which the mujura cymbals are fastened, so that they jingle as the instrument is being played. Two men holding different kinds of Khaijadi; right instrument has jingles.
A leather-covered tambourine covered on only one side, used in Nepali society since ancient times. 7-9 inches diameter x 2-4 inches deep. Deer or goat skin. The khanjadi is slightly smaller than the damphu. Traditionally used to accompany hymns and religious dance by Brahmin cast.Another kind of Khaijadi. The Magar and Gurung use larger drums.[13] The Brahmin and Chhetri use smaller drums for devotional music.[13]
Very large, copper, unpitched kettle drum (190 centimeter diameter), topped with cowhide and beaten with sticks. All but gone; two pairs remain at the Durbar Squares in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. Played during ceremonies to Degu Teleju Bhahani, patron goddess of Newar people.[14] Name of the Damai comes from association with this instrument.[15]
Copper kettle drum, about 30 centimeters tall x 38 centimeters diameter, topped with cowhide, beaten with a single large stick. Part of the panche baja ensemble.[16][8][17] Large: thulo damaha (ठूलो दमाह).[18] Slightly smaller and less loud, used in supportive role: sauntal (बाउँताल).[19] Small: sano damaha (सानो दमाहा).[18]
(Near to far): Two damaha drums, a tyamko drum, and a dholaki drum at a Hindu wedding in Nepal.
Dugdugi
Pair of single-sided goatskin drums tied together, about 18 cm and 12 cm across, played barehanded. Carried at the waist.[8] Accompany "enthusiastic" folk dances. Played by young men while dancing for young women.[20] Not the same as the dugdugi of Bangladesh, which is an hourglass drum.
Single headed drum, about 33-45 centimeters high, 18-22 centimeters diameter at head. Drum gets wider from head for about 3/4 of its length, then slopes inward. Base has air hole. Skin head tensioned by stings running from head to base and back. Head has black tuning paste. Hangs on left shoulder at waist, played with right hand (no stick). Accompanied by wind instruments.[14] Mainly played in marriage processions and accompanied with baboocha, Tah and Baya or Muhali."[21]
A small Nepali kettle drum, a prominent member of the panche baja ensemble. The body of the instrument is made of soft wood, clay, copper or iron; the skin is cowhide. It is about 15cm in diameter and 15cm high, but this can vary as instruments are not standardized. It is carried on a strap around the neck, at the waist when standing, and played with two sticks.[8][14][15][23]
Copper kettle drums, 45-65cm diameter. Old instrument ,formerly player at "victory ceremonies." One remaining use is to celebrate Dashain (दशैं [ne]), at the Dashain Mela festival.[24]
It is found as much in northern India as in Nepal, a two headed drum made from wood and copper is 30 cm long body x 20 cm diameter at drumheads, with a narrow waist.[14] It is hollowed out on the lathe; metal sometimes replaces wood. The tightened part houses a small hole allowing the "breathing" of the instrument. The goatskin membranes are attached to rings laced with a cord providing variable tension.[20] It is worn over the shoulder and held in the left hand, which grips the instrument at the central part while varying the tension and therefore the pitch of the sound; the right strikes the head with a bare hand. Accompanies folk dances but also jâgar shamanic rituals.[20]
Wooden drum, the ends covered with cowhide, 100 cm long x 45 cm diameter. Has stick mounted internally (and wooden rings attached to stick) to vibrate and wrattle while dum is played. One drumhead odd player with the bare hand, the other with a stick.[26]
Two headed drum, (38 centimeters x 20 centimeters), one head played with hand, the other with tuning paste on inside played with a stick. Used in festivals in Gulan near temples. Plays in Dapha bhajana Khala.[26][21]
Possible Dhaa drums and bhusya cymbals at Tebaha Gunla Bajan Buddhist devotional musical society playing in Kathmandu.
Large (20"x16", 60 cm x 30 cm) two-headed drum, heads made from goathide, can be carried while playing.[6] One side played with a stick. The other side (with tuning paste on the inside) is hand-drummed.
A larger dhimay.[6] Double headed drum, 80 centimeters long x 50 centimeters diameter, Uttis log hollowed out, heads covered with goatskin, one side has tuning paste on inside and played with hand, other side played with stick.
Two-headed wooden drum with cowhide drumheads, about 40 cm long x 20 cm diameter. Extra thick hide on one end, to be beaten with a stick. Other side is played with the bare hand. Accompanied by muhali.[8][26]
Drum, about 40 centimeters long x 20 centimeters diameter, made of Daar wood, right side covered with cowhide, left with goathide. Used in Panchai Baajaa as main rhythm instrument in Bagmati Zone and Gandaki Zone. Right side beat with stick and with fingers, left side used only the hand to beat.[26][27]
Two-headed drum with different diameter heads, tuned with paste.
Magah Khin
Same as madal. Two membrane drum tuned with tuning paste.[6] Was specific to magar community, but "has become an important part in Newar folk music."[21]
A two-headed drum like dhah or dhimay, about 14" long x 7" diameter, used in rituals, known as 'Seeh Bajan' (funeral drum), to proclaim news in ancient times ("In the Malla period"). "Mainly played by the Khadgis."[6][21][28]
Term is used when Dapha Khin and Naya Khin play together...Pastah Khin is accompanied with Ponga and Tah.[21]
Yaaka khin
Double-headed drum made of soft wood, 75 centimeters long, the drumheads covered in cowhide, both heads have tuning paste.. Drum is hung around the neck, down to the waist; hand-drummed. Played at festivals, accompanies songs and hymns. Other names: can be called Dapa khin when "played in Dapa Bhajans (traditional hymns)...a single Khin is called Yakah Khin and two Khins are called as 'Joh Khin'."[21]
Two-headed drum, one head larger. Smaller than dholak. Tuning pâté on both heads.[8][6]
Nepali woman plays the maadal.
Pakhawaaja
पखावज
Double-headed wood drum, curved sides, wider in the middle, the ends covered with ox hide. About 80 centimeters long. Is tuned with spots of tuning paste on the drum heads; also tuned by adusting tuning pegs/spools.[26] Possibly related to the Indian Pakhavaj.
Ceremonial bells.[29] Hindu temples generally have one metal bell hanging at the entrance and devotees ring the bell while entering the temple.
Big ghanta and little ghanta outside a temple
Dibya Ghanta (divine bell)
दिव्य घण्ट
Very large bells were made for the three Newar kingdoms. The dibya ghantas each hung from a wooden crossbeam by very thick chains. They were located in Kathmandu Durbar Square (big enough that 16 men could fit inside), Bhaktapur Durbar Square (holds 8 men), and Patan Durbar Square, Lalipur (holds 12 men). The dibya ghantas were used during evenings in prayer to Degu Teleju Bhadani, the patron goddess of the Newar people of Nepal.[16][30]
Small bell (about 18 centimeters high) with a wind-activated clapper.[16][8]
Bell at Patan Durbar Square
Mate Ghanta
Small bells suspended in circle under large bell with clapper to catch wind; a windchime.[8]
Name in English
Name in Nepali
Description
Ethnic Connections
Town / Region
Picture
Ghalting
घाल्टिङ
Bell played in religious worship and at the temple. "Pure and holy because it is rung only during worship." Rung before rice planting at Jaatri ceremony. Brass bell, about 10 centimeters high x 6 centimeters diameter.[16][31]
Also called ghanta, drilbou, and tribu (Tibet). Brass hand-bell used in Tantric Buddhism. About 18 centimeters long x 10 centimeters diameter. The handle is in form of "Bajra" or Vajra, a type of ceremonial club with a ribbed spherical head. Handle represents male, bell represents female.[16]
Mule (khachhad) bell[8][6] Bell hung on the neck of the leading mule while packing loads in the hills. Thin iron, about 20 centimeters long x 13 centimeters diameter. Other mules wear smaller (about 15 centimeter long bells).[16]
Ghodi ghanta
Horse (ghodda) bell. Brass bell worn on the necks of horses grazing, to help locate them in the mountains.[16] About 7.5 centimeters length x 7.5 centimeters diameter.[16] Bell removed during horseback riding. Brass bell, very loud.
Ghamdo
घाँडो
Iron horse bell. Used in hunting; hunters would follow the sound of the bell.[31]
Iron bells (set of three) worn by the head cow (gai) (in herds owned by Brahmins. Other cows, such as bulls and calves have single bells. About 10 centimeters long x 6 centimeters diameter.[16]
Chaunri ghanta
चौरी घण्
Yak bell, various designs with thunderbolt on top and a flat bottom, about 13 centimeters long x 7.5 centimeters diameter.[16]
Galambe
गलम्बे
Folk instrument of Sunuwar caste. Also, iron bell worn around the neck of a hunting dog. About 10 centimeters long x 5 centimeters diameter.[16][31]
Goat (bokaa) bell. Bell worn by goats that are dedicated to a god or goddess. A warning not to harm the animal to avoid sin.[16]
Bayal ghanta
Wooden bells hung around the necks of oxen (teraai goru) pulling a cart. Rectangular, about 15 centimeters tall x 20 centimeters wide with two or four wooden clappers inside. Made of white teak (Gmelina arborea)or Trewia nudiflora[16]
A carved wooden bell. This one is from Tribal Museum, Koraput, Odisha, India.
Kole or Ko La
कोले
Water buffalo bells, worn around neck of buffalo. Rectangular bell with sloped roof (looks like simple house), made of thin sheets of iron, with bone or iron clapper. About 5 inches long x 4 inches wide.[16][31]
These instruments have blended together when Nepali people have reported on what instruments to include in the Panche baja, although there is a difference between the Jhyali and Jhurma, noted in Kadel's Musical Instrument's of Nepal.[32] The cymbals are about 20-26 inches across, and have a boss about 6 cm high.[33] "Held horizontally and the stroked across each other to produce a distinct sustained chattering sound."[34] The jhali may accompany Naya Khin.[33]
Small bronze cymbals connected by a cord.[8] Similar to tah
Taa
Brass cymbals, about 25 cm diameter, played in conjunction with Chyaabrung (also called Ke). Used by young unmarried Limbu women. Photo of Rai woman with cymbals placed here; the Rai and Limbu peoples are both Kirats.
Small cymbals (about 20 cm across, 7.9 inches, .5 cm thick) connected by a cord.[33] Controls the music's rhythm. "Accompanies Dhah, Dapha Khin, Paschima, Koncha Khin, Naya Khin (when played as Gunla Bajab).[35][33] Used in Charya dances and songs.[33] Similar to mujura.
Cymbals accompanying Yaaka Khin drums at Kartik Naach, 2018
Tinchhu
Brass cymbals about 15cm across (6 inches). Thick (1cm). Used by the Newar to chant and worship, during processions (including secular). Gives beat to other instruments in traditional dances.
Two metal plates, connected at the bottom with jhalli in a row on each side; falls open from the top. Can be clapped together or shaken to sound the jyalli, or the musician can run his hands over the jyalli cymblas. The ring can also be struck against the body of the stick. May have a place in the center to hold and snap the halves together. About 60 cm long. Used by Yogis while chanting.[33][36]
Playing music in front of Boudhanath (सोयम्भुनाथ).
A single stick carried by dancers during festivals such as Gai Jatra. The Ghintang Ghisi dance is celebrated for almost a week, starting from the day of Gaijatra to Krishna Janmashtami. The dance is done in a long queue with two persons in a row. As dancers dance to the rhythms of drums and cymbals, they raise their ghintanghisi and tap them in the air against the instrument held by another dancer.[37][38]
A jingle.[22] Nepal has many in different forms, including blocks (Dhode Kataal, Kastha kartaala and Khajadaa), handle-mounted including Khanjari for one hand and Jhaal (with two handles).
Indian khartal blocks.
Dhode Kartaal
ढोडे कर्ताल
Rectangular blocks with jhyaali cymbals mounted in a row of holes. The blocks are rectangular, about 45 centimeters long x 7.5 centimeters wide. One block has a thumb hole, the other slots on one edge for the fingers. They are played one handed by clapping the blocks together in the hand.[39]
A jingle; rectangular block of carved wood with a handle at each end, the center has 6-14 holes in two rows, with jhyalli cymbals fastened into each hole. 30-60 centimeters wide x 15 centimeters long x 3 centimeters thick. Held in both hands and shaken; accompanies hymns and Bhajan and Kirtan.[39]
Rectangular blocks about 20 cm x 7.5 cm, with jhyaali cymbals mounted in two rows of two holes on each. The blocks are held in each hand (by a fingers-hole in one and a thumbhole in the other) and clapped together. "Played by religious choirs."[39]
Kastha Kartaala काण्ठ कर्ताल
Khajadaa
खंजडा
Similar to Kastha kartaala. Rectangular blocks about 20 cm x 7 cm, with jhyaali cymbals mounted in two rows of two holes on each. The blocks are held in each hand (by a fingers-hole in one and a thumbhole in the other) and clapped together. Accompany spiritual songs, and during death rituals (and the accompanying music). The tamauraa (a one strinded instrument) can be plucked with the other hand in accompaniment.[39]
A jingle held in each hand and shaken. Each is shaped like a ping-pong paddle (or one with the round trimmed to a square), with four slots in the circular part and jhaali mounted in the slots. about 20 cm long x 12 cm at the widest part. Used by religious choirs.[39]
An idophone percussion instrument, a type of clapper. It is called patpate from the "pat pat" sound it makes when swinging it.[39] There it is made of a split banana stalk, or the leaves.[39] The edges of the leaves are cut away to leave the stiff middle stalk-section.[39] The 20 cm long stalk is split into three sections (each about 12 cm long), leaving a handle about 8 cm long.[39] The instrument or toy is about 5 cm wide.[39]
A jingle, made by placing 12 rings lining the sides of a flat elongated shape made of iron, with four more rings under the lower grip. The silimi is used while dancing, played by shaking it with the dance moves. This is a traditional musical instrument of the Rai Limbu people.
Plucked lute. Very similar to other Asian lutes including Dramyen of Tibet, Pamiri rubab of East Tajikistan, dranyen of Bhutan, and the rubab of Tashkent. These instruments all have the hollow going from the bowl up into the neck, extensions outward from the neck (just above the bowl).
Re-creation of the Aarbajo. The instrument is being held like a guitar or dramyen. The traditional way is to set it vertically in the lap.
It is a fiddle about 45 centimeters long (about 17 inches), carved from a single piece of wood, with two sound chambers covered with goatskin.[1] The instrument has six strings on it. The bow is made with hair from horse tail dipped into pine tar or rubbed with rosin.
Sometimes known as the santali banam.[40] 2-chambered, bowed string instrument made of Guloic wood, with animal skin soundboard. Played to accompany courtship and ritual dances, dhodron banam are frequently sculpted to depict important scenes and motifs from Santāl life and mythology.[41]
6-8 string lute, related to tungna about 78–90 cm long, carved shardul as part of peghead. Accompanies folk dances.[42] A shardul is a mythical creature, part lion and part something else (such as goat, sheep, bird, horse).[43]
Name is used for two one-string instruments. One version is a drum-zither or zither-drum called "golki" in Nepal. In India, it is called Ektaraएकतारे [ne]. The Nepalese use "ektara" for a different instrument. The golki can be drummed or it can have the strings plucked. By squeezing the bamboo lathes, the tone can be shifted.
The ektara in Nepal is a one-string lute, played in a rhythmic drone.[8] It is used by Yogis and wandering holy men to accompany their singing and prayers. Bamboo stick (90 cm long) is inserted through side of wooden bowl (a "tumbo") and the top of the bowl is covered with deerskin. Has a single string running from a peg at the top, down the stick/neck, across a bridge on the deerhide soundboard, and is tied at the "spike" where the stick pokes through the bowl. The instrument's string is plucked with the index-finger's fingernail.[44]
Lute, four strings (one pair and two individual strings), plucked with plectrum. Overall length of 75 cm (about 29 inches). Sheepskin soundboard. Carving of a shardul on peghead. Accompanies singing, dancing.[42][46]
A shardul is a mythical creature, part lion and part something else (such as goat, sheep, bird, horse).[43]
Variations:
Hyolmo Tungnaa. Hyolmo people, Sindhupalchok district. 4 strings, 70 cm long, goatskin soundboard, shardul carved on peghead, plucked with plectrum to play rhythm.[8][42]
Tamang tungna. Tamang people, Sailoong area, Ramechhap district, Kavre district and Dolakha district. 4 strings, 75 cm long, goatskin soundboard, ghodaa (horse's head) carved on peghead, plucked with plectrum to play rhythm.[42]
Dhamaken. Thakali people. 4 strings (but 3 or 5 possible), 70 cm long, skin soundboard, shardul carved on peghead, plucked with plectrum. Outer 2 strings tuned to high pitch and low pitch; 2 center strings tuned to same pitch.[8][42]
Hyanjing. Bhote people. Himalayas. 8 silk strings, 70 cm long, sheepskin soundboard, a sheep's head or shardul carved on peghead, plucked with plectrum to play rhythm and melody.[8][42]
One-string fiddle. A coconut resonator impaled by a stick (which acts as the instrument's neck. String runs from the top of the neck down along the stick, over the skin soundboard, and is fastened below the coconut resonator. Played with a bow.[47]
A piece of bamboo tube (15–20 cm tall x 15–18 cm diameter) is covered at one end with goatskin, to form a drum-like object. The drumhead is pierced in the center and a string run through the hole. One end of the string is wrapped around a rod, to keep it from coming out of the hole. The other end is held in the musician's hand. To play, the body is held under the arm, while that same arm pulls the string tight. The other hand plucks the string. The instrument is similar to the Anandalahari of Bengal, Gubguba and Khamak (of Bengal, Odisha and North East India, especially Baulgaan). Played in festivals and dances.[44][48]
Anandalahari. The yakuchaa babhu would have the string coming out from the top of the membrane, instead of having it pass through the instrument's body.
Tunjaai. Tube zithers connected together into a single instrument, a raft zither, hanging from the shoulder and plucked with a plectrum.[49] Made from Thysanolaena maxima.[49]
Copper trumpet, resembles bugle. 53 cm long. Played at festivals, at "occasions of special worship", and at Nuwakot Palace in worship to goddess Bhairavi.[50]
A copper trumpet, about 45 centimeters long, decorated with a "Makara" (sea monster or dragon). Depicted monster's open mouth is the bell of the trumpet. Distinct upward pointing snout.[8][50]
Probable narasingaa purbeli (left) and Kalasha Karnāl horn (right) (Also spelling variants नरसिङगा and नरसिङ्गा). Large curved trumpet, almost crescent shaped, similar to Sringa. Made of thin copper sheet worked into tubular sections and assembled. The Folk Instrument Museum in Kathmandu notes two kinds: the narasingaa paschhimeli is made of 5-7 pieces with a length of 200-300 centimeters, and the curve is gradually semi-circular. The narasingaa purbeli is made of 4 parts, totaling about 150 centimeters length, thicker sheet metal, and a higher pitch.
Copper straight trumpet, collapsible in 5 sections, 225-400 centimeters (88-157 inches) when assembled.[50] Sections constructed of thin sheets of copper assembled into tubing.[50] Similar to a Tibetan Radong[55] "brass trumpet" or Dungchen "large trumpet".[56] Played by lamas in monasteries while scripture is recited. Played with Tamang ghyaling (7-hole oboe) and bupsel (small brass cymbals).[50]
A trumpet that is stylized as a serpent, with many tight coils. The mouthpiece is the tip of the snake's tail, its mouth is the trumpet's bell. 63 cm long. Played by yogis at Changu Narayan Temple jatra (festival), as well as at Swargadwari and Gosaikunda.[50] Used in "fanfares" and "temple ensembles."[15] Bijuli bana (lightning instrument), is also called Nag-beli baja (snake instrument नागबेली बाजा).[15][57]
End-blown buffalo horn trumpet.[8][58][59] The horn of a domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) has a hole drilled in the tip. It may be used that way as a trumpet, or a mouthpiece can be attached, such as a 15 centimeter (6 inch) length of bamboo. The player blows through the bamboo like a trumpet. For the Matya Jatra or the Festival of Lights, longer lengths of bamboo are used to create a horn about four-feet long with an upward curve at the end. The buffalo horn forms the bell of the instrument.[60] In the past wild water buffalo horns were used, but the species is now endangered.
long straight trumpet, about 40 inches long (100 centimeters) made of copper tubing that gets wider from mouthpiece to bell, supported by a rest made from bamboo. Played during "Daaphaa geet" (religious songs) and during Kathmandu's "Goddess Dance."[50]
Horn trumpet from horn of a Hill Ox (Bos indicus), 35–50 cm long.[50] A hole is made in the tip and the horn is blown through that hole.[50] Used in ceremony for the dead.[50]
Trumpet, about 90 cm long, with deep U-shaped bend in the middle. Uniform tube until after U-bend, when it widens into a bell. Played in honor of the god, Shiva. Used to communicate between hilltop villages.[50]
Goat horn trumpet. The horn of a goat (Capra hircus (longer horns are preferred) is attached to a 50 cm long tube of bamboo tube, with the horn tip cut off and the tip o the horn placed into a hole on the top of the bamoo.[50]
Cowhorn shaped trumpet, 2 arms-lengths long (or possibly about 90 cm), made of a single sheet of thick copper (not made in assembled sections like the narshinga and ranasringa).[61][50] Instrument had a high pitch and was named for the "tururu" sound it made.[50]
End-blown flute, about the length of a hand about 30 cm, carved from satisaal wood with seven fingerholes and a thumbhole.[63][62] Played at weddings with the koncha khin.[62]
A side blown bamboo flute or fife with six holes. Made from nigalo or gobi bamboo, or Bhakkimilo (Chinese sumac)[64] Murali is general word for flute, and the word can also be applied to fife, panpipe, reed pipe, mouth organ, and chamfer. (Words that all came up in Google translate as alternate definitions).
Shawm. Played in "identical pairs" with prayers, and alongside laawaa/radun/dungchen (long trumpets) and bupsel (brass cymbal chimes) when some Buddhist scriptures are read. Tamang version has 7 fingerholes and a thumbhole. Sherpa version has 8 fingerholes and a thumbhole.
Single-reed bagpipes.[47] The mashak (also known as mushak baja, masak, mishek, meshek, moshug, moshaq, moshuq, mashak bin, bin baji) is a type of bagpipe found in Northern India, Sudurpaschim Province(specially Baitadi and Darchula district) of Nepal and parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.[65] The pipe was associated with weddings and festive occasions.[66] In India it is historically found in Garhwal(kumaon) in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.[67] This bagpipe uses single reeds,[68] and can be played either as a drone or as a melody instrument.[69]Indian sruti upanga bagpipe.
Burmese mashak, with reed pipe similar to Pungi with melody pipe and drone pipe together.
Snake-charmer's flute a double reed woodwind with two reed pipes (one a drone) attached to small gourd, a mouth-blown air hole at the top of the gourd. Simpler instrument than the bin; it lacks the bin's holes on the drone pipe, for changing scale. Learners may use this before going on to the bin. If used for snake charming, an additional bamboo rod is attached.
Like the Pungi, a double reed woodwind with two reed pipes (one a drone) attached to small gourd, a mouth-blown air hole at the top of the gourd. The bin's drone pipe has two or three holes to allow it to change notes for changes of scale.
Quadrupal-reed woodwind used in the Panche baja. Also spelled phonetically Sanahī (सनही), Sanai (सनै), sana'ī (सनई), sahanā'ī (शहनाई), or sanā'ī (सनाई). The Nepalese instrument is curved. Imported from Persia (called surnā there), by way of India.[70] Instrument is carved in two halves that are glued together, then further stabilized with rings, and a bell added at the bottom.[71] Musicians use circular breathing to maintain continuous tone.[71]
^Nettl, Bruno; Arnold, Alison; Stone, Ruth M.; Porter, James; Rice, Timothy; Olsen, Dale Alan; Miller, Terry E.; Kaeppler, Adrienne Lois; Sheehy, Daniel Edward; Koskoff, Ellen; Williams, Sean; Love, Jacob Wainwright; Goertzen, Chris; Danielson, Virginia; Marcus, Scott Lloyd; Reynolds, Dwight; Provine, Robert C.; Tokumaru, Yoshihiko; Witzleben, John Lawrence (1998). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent. Taylor & Francis. ISBN9780824049461. edited by Bruno Nettl, Alison Arnold, Ruth M. Stone, James Porter, Timothy Rice, Dale Alan Olsen, Terry E. Miller, Adrienne Lois Kaeppler, Daniel Edward Sheehy, Ellen Koskoff, Sean Williams, Jacob Wainwright Love, Chris Goertzen, Virginia Danielson, Scott Lloyd Marcus, Dwight Reynolds, Robert C. Provine, Yoshihiko Tokumaru, John Lawrence Witzleben
^ abcKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 78, 82. ISBN978-9994688302.
^"TAMBA GEET / Dhamphu Song 2075". youtube.com. Golche Sanchar Pvt. Ltd. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020. [YouTube. Shows drums being played and the bird on top of the drum.]
^Kadel, Ram Prasad (2004). Folk Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu: Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum. p. 186. ISBN978-9937911399.
^Pigg, Stacy Leigh (1995). "The Social Symbolism of Healing in Nepal". Ethnology. 34 (1). University of Pittsburgh: 23. doi:10.2307/3773861. JSTOR3773861. There are healers...who are said to blow, sweep (jhār-phuk garne) the various ghosts, spirits and shades that frequently cling to people and make them sick.
^"Dhyangro". Metropolitan Museum of Art. single-headed drum from west Nepal. It was used in shamanic traditions traditions ranging from therapeutic ceremonies to those intended to shape weather patterns
^ abcdefghijklmnopqKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 144, 146, 147, 150–152, 154, 156, 162, 163, 166, 183, 194, 271, 269. ISBN978-9994688302.
^"Damaha". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hung from the neck or shoulder, the smaller head (pothi – 'hen') of the internally conical dholaki is struck with the hand while the larger head (bhāle – 'cock') is beaten with a stick (gajo).
^"नेपालका कलाकृतिहरू (translation: Artifacts of Nepal)". 10 October 2019. सानो दमाहा/ बाउँताल दमाहाकै आकारको तर त्यसभन्दा सानो दमाहालाई बाउँताल भनिन्छ । यसको आवाज ठूलो दमाहाको जस्तो मोटो हुँदैन् र ठूलो दमाहाको तुलनामा यसको घन्काई पनि कम हुन्छ त्यसैले यसलाई दमाहाको सहयोगी धनबाजाको रूपमा लिइन्छ (But smaller than that damaha is called the Bauntal. Its sound is not as thick as that of the larger damaha, and its volume is lower than that of the large damaha, so it is considered to be supportive)
^ abcKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 89, 92. ISBN978-9994688302. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ abcdef"Membranophones". Jwajalapa!. newatech, inc. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
^ abcdefNikolova, Ivanka; Davey, Laura; Dean, Geoffrey, eds. (2000). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Musical Instruments. Cologne: Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. pp. 94–101.
^"Tyamko 19th century". Metropolitan Museum of Art. made of wood, copper or earthenware according to regional taste...Western Nepali tradition
^Poudyal, Ajavi (2019-04-23). "नाच चल्छ जात चल्दैन" [The dance works but their caste does not]. Annapurna Post. Manveer, who used to play in the evening and in the morning to join hands, now plays hudco in village worship, marriage and fasting [ceremonies] to fulfill his desire...'In the past, even if it was touched by us, it used to be sprinkled with gold water [washed clean]. The situation is not the same now, but he has countless experiences of being discriminated against as a Dalit.
^ abcdeKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 84, 86, 96, 123, 128, 133, 135, 269. ISBN978-9994688302.
^"Dholaki". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Damāhā...In western Nepal...A long strap hanging from the player's neck positions the drum in front of the player who strikes it with angled or straight sticks depending on local tradition...serves as a bass drum for the ensemble.
^"The Goddess Who Went to Nepal". Goddess Taleju Bhawani is the patron Hindu goddess of the Newar people of Nepal...three main temples in Nepal dedicated to Goddess Taleju Bhawani...at Kathmandu, Patan...and Bhaktapur...
^ abcdKadel, Ram Prasad (2004). Folk Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu: Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum. pp. 65, 76, 90. ISBN978-9937911399.
^ abcdefghKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 145, 149, 158, 169, 185. ISBN978-9994688302.
^"Jhyālī". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jhyālī (Jhāmta)...thin-walled cymbals may be made of brass or of an alloy...held horizontally and the stroked across each other to produce a distinct sustained chattering sound.
^ abcdef"Idiophones". Jwajalapa!. newatech, inc. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
^"Chimta". Musical Instrument Museums Online (MIMO). Retrieved 20 October 2022. A Chimta [stick Chimta ref: Punjabi] formed from a V-shaped steel stick with seven facing pairs of riveted iron nail spindles (each), each with a pair of copper alloy jingle discs. The metal strip at the base is lowered to allow the forked stick to open out. A hand hold in the centre allows the sticks to be beaten against each other, rattled and the ring at the base can also struck against the body of the stick, creating three different sounds.
^"Gaijatra in Bhaktapur - Ghintang ghisi Twak-2". youtube.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019. [YouTube. Video shows dancers with ghintanghisi, interacting. Also shows percussion instruments playing rhythm for the dance.]
^Shrestha, Sangita (4 September 2015). "Bhaktapur comes alive with Ghinita Ghisi". The Himalayan Times. Nepal. To the tune of their music more than a dozen teenage boys... were dancing holding a stick in each hand. The sound of their Ghangla and the sticks striking each other supported the rhythm of the Ghinta Ghishi music...
^ abcdefghijKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 186, 189, 195–197, 201. ISBN978-9994688302.
^"Dhodro Banam". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Dhodro Banam, second half 19th century, Indian (Santal group of Munda people) The single-string dhodro banam comes from the Santal tribal community of central India, particularly what is the modern state of Orissa. Alternatively, it is sometimes known as the santali banam. Related to the sarinda and sarangi
^Dhodro Banam (bowed lute) (Plaque in museum exhibit). Phoenix, Arizona: Musical Instrument Museum. Dhodro Banam (bowed lute) Santāl People, Northeastern Region, early 19th c. Guloic wood, animal skin, metal Played to accompany courtship and ritual dances, dhodron banam are frequently sculpted to depic important scenes and motifs from Santāl life and mythology.
^ abcdefKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 218, 219, 221, 222, 224, 228. ISBN978-9994688302.
^ abKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. p. 199. ISBN978-9994688302.
^ abKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 220, 229. ISBN978-9994688302.
^Kadel, Ram Prasad (2004). Folk Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu: Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum. p. 170. ISBN978-9937911399.
^ abcdKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 218, 229, 230, 271. ISBN978-9994688302.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqKadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. pp. 5, 7, 12, 14, 18, 21, 27, 29, 29, 32, 63, 146. ISBN978-9994688302.
^"End-blown horn". National Music Museum. University of South Dakota. Retrieved 1 November 2020. End-blown trumpet Vernacular name: Rkang-gling Date: 1850 ca. Place Made: Tibet, Asia...Bone of a left human femur: ball joint removed, leaving blunt end, marrow canal forming naturally hollow bore, knee-joint forming double bell; wire binding
^"Karnāl". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Karnāl...long conical trumpet is used singly or in pairs and may substitute for or play in contrast with the narsĩngā.
^"नरसिंगा नौमती र पञ्चैबाजा (translation: Narasinga Naumati and Panchaibaja)". Saptahik weekly (साप्ताहिक). Narasinga Naumati and Panchaibaja...also called 'Dhutturi'...made of thin copper leaves, is played by mouth. The crescent-shaped instrument has a large sounding part and a small blowing part...It is also called 'Dhutturi' in the village
^"End-blown horn". National Music Museum. University of South Dakota. Retrieved 1 November 2020. End-blown horn Vernacular name: Śringa Date: 1900-1950 ca. Place Made: Nepal, Asia Place Made: South India, Asia
^"Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
^Moore, J. Kenneth (October 2003). "The Rag-dung". Metropolitan Museum of Art, Department of Musical Instruments. The Tibetan word dung means "shell," ...When combined with other qualifying words, it denotes different types of trumpets, as with rkang-dung ("femur trumpet"), rag-dung ("brass trumpet"), and dung-chen ("large trumpet").
^"End-blown horn". National Music Museum. University of South Dakota. 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2020. End-blown horn Vernacular name:Dhulu neku Vernacular name:Neku Alternate name:Animal horn Date: 1900-1925 ca. Place Made:Nepal, Asia
^Day, CR (13 February 1894). "Notes on Indian Music". Proceedings of the Royal Musical Association. Twentieth Session, 1893–94. London: Novello, Ewer, & Co. pp. 64–.
^Himal Associates (1993). Himāl. Himal Associates. p. 24. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
^Sachs, Kurt (1940). The History of Musical Instruments. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 230–231. ...imported from Persia, preserved its Persian name surnā in North India...sānāyī
