SANTUR

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Santur

Sound Sample

Different forms of the zither that is well-known here in our parts are spread all over the world. The Indian Santur which is played with sticks has developped out of the folk music in Kashmir. It took a long time for it to find acceptance also in classical Indian music. Particularly the Santur virtuoso Shivkumar Sharma has developped a kind of differentiated playing technique that played an important part in accepting this instrument as a classical solo instrument.

The Indian Santur differs from the Persian Santur in the narrow and high body. The player sits cross-legged and puts the instrument on his lap. It is played with two heavy wooden drumsticks. On the long sides on top of the instrument 15 wooden bridges each, that are stringed with 2 or 3 strings, are positioned opposite each other. The strings are struck towards the middle part of the instrument. Thus 30 notes with 60 or 90 strings respectively are available. The strings are stringed on the sides of the instrument on metal pins and can be turned by a tuning key. A usual tuning is a diatonic scale on the right row of bridges. The left row then complements the semitones that are missing in the diatonic scale. In order to receive particularly full and resonant sounds, the whole instrument can alternatively be tuned to the pentatonic scale.

The Santurs on offer from TARANG are made of solid wood and have 90 strings. They differ greatly from the Santurs often offered in India which are made of cheap plywood. The instrument is supplied in a stable plywood case that is usually coated with black plastic, together with a pair of sticks and a tuning key.

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TARANG offers on principle only high-qualtiy musical instruments. This is made possible by close personal contact to the suppliers and a strict selection of the instruments that are included in our range of goods. We do not offer any instruments which reach the west from unknown sources via importers and which are often resold by middlemen without any quality check and setting of the instrument. The demand from the west is relatively high in India. The purchase prices are negotiated to the lowest limit by the western countries, especially for high ordered quantities. This has effects on the required care and circumspection in craftsmanship, on the experience and mentality of the commissioned manufacturer and the use of parts of the instruments that are often of a poor qualtity. Irrespective of the qualification of the skill in craftsmanship, this leads, in some cases, to results that do not deserve the name instrument. Thus it is easily comprehensible that it is essential, when bying an Indian instrument, to know the sources. TARANG only supplies instruments from indisputable sources. All instruments are delivered adjusted and ready to be played.

Of course, we understand that somebody who purchases an instrument is also dependent on accessories and spare parts. Also in this respect we can satisfy the needs of our customers. Should an instrument be defective at any time, we can arrange for appropriate restoration. As a rule we can deliver any instrument offered on our website within 1 - 2 weeks. Our international lists of teachers enable everybody to find information about a teacher in their proximity. You can expect from us: reasonable prices, prompt service and straightforward processing of purchase and delivery.

The financial aspect also has to be mentioned. Despite the high quality we offer, we also do our best to offer you these instruments at very competitive and reasonable prices.