Indian electronic drones

Hi Folks,

There seems to be some confusion about Indian electronic drones. There
are at least two kinds of electronic drones commonly used in both
Hindustani and Carnatic classical music (sometimes both kinds of drones
are used in the same performance):

* Electronic sruti boxes -- these play three (or more) tones continuously
(often tonic, fifth, octave); acoustic sruti boxes sound like a chord
on a harmonium and their electronic counterparts sound like an
electronic imitation of the same

* Electronic tanpura -- these simulate four (or more) plucked strings
played individually in a cycle (often fifth, octave, octave, tonic);
acoustic tanpura are large four (or more) stringed plucked lutes

The older electronic tanpura do not sound much like real tanpura, but
lately some electronic tanpura which apparently have samples of acoustic
tanpura have appeared on the market. I believe that "Buckingham Music"
(http://www.io.com/~peterc/index.html) occasionally carries the new
kind, though I do not seem them on the web page just now.

The Ali Akbar College Store is another place worth checking, although
again I do not see the new kind there at present:
http://www.aacm.org/shop/index.html

Although the older electronic tanpura and electronic sruti boxes do not
sound as good as acoustic tanpura or acoustic sruti boxes it is worth
noting that they do a tolerable job of providing a constant drone for
performing musicians and are, in many cases, much more practical than
arranging for accompaniment by humans playing acoustic drones for Indian
musicians touring abroad.

Cheers,
Christopher

Christopher,

Hi!

This must have been what I was hearing at the concerts I metioned
yesterday. I have never owned a Tanpura, but I have been able to play
the ones that friends have - and the realism of the sound of the
electronic ones I heard was such that it did really make me think it
was samples. I must admit, it was very lovely sounding.

Thanks for you notes on this,

Jacky Ligon

--- In tuning@egroups.com, "Christopher J. Chapman"
<christopher.chapman@c...> wrote:
> lately some electronic tanpura which apparently have samples of
acoustic
> tanpura have appeared on the market.