JAWARI: The little-known Secret about the Indian drone

I. Introduction.
The Indian tanpura, also called tambora/tambura/tamboura, is the
Indian drone used as an accompaniment to a classical music
performance. It is a wooden instrument with a gourd resonator. It
has four strings, usually three steel and one copper.
The first string is played with the middle (or the ring) finger. the
remaining three strings, with the index finger.

II. The Tuning.
There are four kinds of raga-s, requiring the following variations in
the tuning of the first string. The tuning of the remaining three
strings remains constant.

[1] Those raga-s which omit F:
Examples: Bhupali, Shankara, Desakar
Tanpura tuning: 1st string: G (lower octave)
2nd string: C
3rd string: C
4th string: C (lower octave)

[2] Those raga-s which include both F and G. Here we have two types:
(a) Those dominated by G. The strings are tuned as in [1].
Examples: Bhairava, Yaman.

(b) Those dominated by F. Here the first string is tuned in F (lower
octave) . The remaining three strings remain the same.
Examples: Bageshri, Lalit pancham.
Tanpura tuning: 1st string: F (lower octave)
2nd string: C
3rd string: C
4th string: C (lower octave)

[3] Those which omit G. The strings are tuned as in [2b].
Examples: Malkaus, Lalit.

[4] Many evening ragas like Marva, Puriya, Poorvi; also, Sohani. Here
the first string is tuned in B (lower octave). The remaining three
strings remain the same. These raga-s contain F# as one of the
notes, giving us a tritone.
Tanpura tuning: 1st string: B (lower octave)
2nd string: C
3rd string: C
4th string: C )lower octave)

III. "JAWARI" (or jiwari): The little-known Secret.
Tied separately at the lower end of the tanpura, the four strings,
separately pass over the specially treated bridge. They eventually
reach their respective pegs. Small threads (about 3" to 4" -- the
length is irrelevant) of cotton or silk, of suitable thickness, are
passed, separately, BETWEEN the four metal strings and the bridge.
The location, on the bridge, of each of the cotton pieces, is
adjusted, by trial and error, till each metal string gives out loud,
clear, very distinct sound. This happens only at a specific location
on the bridge, of each thread, BUT AT NO OTHER LOCATION. These
threads are each called a "jawari". The process of bringing out the
special sound is called "to bring out jawari".
For each string, the wave form of the jiwari sound is very different
from that of the vibrating string, though the pitch is the same. The
number and relative strengths of the harmonics could be different.
This deserves a very special study. If I recollect correctly, the
only study on the jawari is a monogram written by no less a person
than Sir C.V.Raman, the great Nobel laureate in Physics (do you
recall "the Raman effect" in Physics?). Could any study of shruti,
intervals, and harmonics, perhaps, be incomplete, till we come to
know jiwari better? Any suggestions? [I have not read the monogram,
only heard about it]. Does anyone know about any other study on
jawari?
Thanks.

Haresh BAKSHI
www.SoundOfIndia.com

--- In tuning@egroups.com, hareshbakshi@h... wrote:

http://www.egroups.com/message/tuning/17117

>
> Haresh BAKSHI
> www.SoundOfIndia.com

Thank you, Mr. Bakshi, for your explanation of some of the
fundamentals of Indian music. Frequently on this list there are
discussions from people who are "into" this music, but they rarely
explain anything... they are mostly for the fully initiated, so your
explanations are especially rewarding....
_______ _____ ___ _
Joseph Pehrson