A traditional Tharai made of metal (along with Thappattai)
| |
| Other names | Thaarai |
|---|---|
| Classification | Wind instruments |
TharaiorThaarai is a wind instrument from South India. It is a traditional instrument played during festivals, folk dances, weddings and functions. The instrument in played predominantly in Tamil Nadu and in some parts of Kerala. There are many variants of the instrument, including longer and shorter versions, curved or straight and the outer pipe may be made of metalorwood. The instrument might be played along with Thappattai, a percussion instrument in folk dances and festivities or accompanied by traditional Thavil and Nadaswaram in rituals and functions.
The exact origin of the instrument is not clear. The instrument was one of the ancient native music instruments developed and used by the Tamil people.[1][2] The Tirumurai, a twelve-volume compendium of hymns dated from 6th to the 11th century CE, mentions the instrument.[3][4]
சங்கொடு தாரை காளந் தழங்கொலி முழங்கு பேரி
வெங்குரற் பம்பை கண்டை வியன்றுடி திமிலைதட்டி
பொங்கொலிச் சின்ன மெல்லாம்பொருபடை மிடைந்தபொற்பின்
மங்குல்வான் கிளர்ச்சி நாண மருங்கெழுந் தியம்பி மல்க
Thirumurai verse 581[5]
Thirumurai verse 581[5]
When sage Agastya propagated the details of Siddha medicine to the other sages, he was welcomed by a procession with music including the traditional tharai.[6]
The instrument may be curved or straight. The curved version like a "s" is generally made of a metaloralloy like brass similar to Kombu.[7][8] The name is derived from KombuinTamil language meaning cow's horn.[7][9][8] Araivatta kombu tharai, is a variant of the same, which is a crescent-shaped brass instrument with araivatta meaning "crescent" in Tamil.[7]
It may also be a longitudinal thin cylinder like a pole with up to 12 ft (3.7 m) length, made up of wood, which produces a continuous sound if wind pressure is applied.[3][10] There are two variants of the same: a shorter version known as Kuttathaarai with kutta meaning short in Tamil and a longer version known as Nedunthaarai with nedu meaning long or far in Tamil.[11][12]
It is a traditional instrument played in South India, majorly by the Tamil peopleinTamil Nadu.[13][14] It is commonly played during festivals, folk dances, weddings and functions.[15][13] The instrument is played in Hindu temple processions accompanying Hindu gods and goddesses.[16][17] It is used in the worship of traditional Tamil deities like Muneeswarar.[18]
Sangu ndha sekhandi tharai parai vathiyam
Mangalamai muzhangida mahimayodu varugiraar
Thongum meesai kathiyaam, thudikkum kannil sakthiyaam
Ingithamai nethiyil olirum neeru venmayai
Muneeswarar Stotram verse 3[18]
The instrument is generally played with Thappattai, a traditional percussion instrument in Tamil festivals and folk arts and might be accompanied sometimes by other traditional instruments such as Urumi melam in Kerala and Naiyandi melam.[17][2][19] It is also played with Thavil, a percussion instrument and Nadaswaram, a double reed wind instrument, commonly played in Tamil weddings, functions and rituals.[19] The instrument is played in the background for the performance of Tamil folk dances such as Salangai attam.[10][13]
The instrument has also been played and showcased in urban festivals like the Chennai SangamaminChennai and Tamil ThiruvizhainCoimbatore.[20][21]
Tharai Thappattai was a Tamil language film, directed by Bala and released in 2016.[22] Music director Ilaiyaraaja is known to use traditional instruments including tharai in the compositions.[23]
..Thaarai and thappattai, native instruments of Tamil people..
procession of Siddhas around South Podhigai playing musical instruments like nagarimelam, thuthari, thaarai..
music played on instruments such as the tharai , an S shaped horn
including tharai (ancient 12-feet trump), tappatti (drum), matthalam (dholak)
tharai, thappattai and kaithalam. They perform folk dances.
Some of their musical instruments are moolam, nayanam, kulal, tharai, ...
...play instruments such as tiruchinnam, ekkalam, tharai and come in a procession...
..taken to the temple in a big procession with mela dhalam, tharai thappatai and crackers.
such as Melam, Nathaswaram, Thavil, Parai, Thaarai, Thappattai, Urimi Melam, Naiyandi Melam and Band etc.
performances like silambam, oyilattam, poi kaal attam, parai and tharai thappattai, among others.
Traditional dance forms include ..., Tharai..
He used authentic instruments like tharai and thappattai (Parai drums)..
|
| |
|---|---|
| Wind (Sushir) |
|
| Plucked Stringed (Tat) |
|
| Bowed Stringed (Vitat) |
|
| Membranous Percussion (Avanaddh) |
|
| Non-Membranous Percussion (Ghan) |
|
| Other |
|
| Historical/possibly extinct |
|
