Sringa

Mumbai player of tutari

The sringa, also known as tutari, ranasringa, blowhorn, sig, singa, kurudutu or kombu, is an ancient Indian musical instrument. It is a type of horn wind instrument.

Construction

There are two shape types of bugles, one made in "S" shape, and the other in "C" shape. Material was originally made of animal horn, and of metal.

Playing

Ranasringa dated to 1880, currently in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The tutari in Maharashtra, has survived not just because of its connections to royal traditions, but as a current political symbol. The instrument is also executed in South India, in Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is played for festivals, and in ritual performances known as kshetram vadyam. It is also played for marriages and in military music.

See also

Kombu (instrument)

Sources

• S. Sadie, The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments, Macmillan Publishers, London, 1985.