My instruments: Part 1
This is my Bansuri which I bought two weeks ago in Montville.
It's only capable of a mere 2 octaves, and not tuned to produce specific notes which give a raga (Hindustani (aka. north Indian) scale) it's 'flavour' or mood, but it still sounds quite nice. Now I just need to get proficient in playing it...
(Sri Krishna Radha playing the Bansuri)
posted by Andrew at 3:41 pm
6 Comments:
is it hard to play? it looks cool :)
This type of Bansuri is not so hard to play...I just have pretty small hands, so it's a little bit of a stretch to play the lowest note.
I think it is pretty difficult to play any instrument well though; even after 15 years of music I've still got alot to learn.
cool :) i love music and i do enjoy it :) i play a little on piano, This type of Bansuri seems a challenge good luck
I couldn't play an instrument if my life depended on it!
A little OT but I've always wondered why in some Indian artwork the people have such strange blue/grey skin tones?
I'm glad you asked Chris. I hope this explaination won't be too long...
I've got alot more to learn about Hindu traditions but Sri Krishna (in the picture) is said to be the greatest incarnation of God (otherwise called Krisha - meaning the source of all pleasures and wisdom). Krishna is therefore the most wise, the most skilled, the most beautiful etc. and Blue is seen as a colour of great beauty in India.
The skin of Krishna is usually black or blue, black due to his origins from a strand of hair from the head of Vishnu. The skin of Krishna is blue since he symbolises infinity itself which like the sky encompasses all and everything pervading our whole existence, hence the significance of Krishna's blue skin. Krishna is most frequently depicted as a pastoral God playing a flute
Blue is also associated with the Demi-God Vishnu who Sri Krishna is a direct incarnation of (indirect incarnation of Krishna, but direct incarnation of Vishnu, see if you can get your head around that one!)
Furthermore, blue is also associated with the Brahmin caste of priests, so Krishna is then the greatest priest.
Hence alot of reasons for the blue, and alot more which I'm still yet to learn about.
That's interesting & yes having a little trouble getting my head around that!
Initially I thought it was perhaps a way to signify the immortal/holiness of a figure. Sort of like the way Ukrainian & Byzantine religious icons have unusual facial features & proportions to set them apart from the "normal" people.
Actually I'll be doing some work on a Hindu temple & community centre shortly, signage & the Aum symbols on the Sikhara (brass roof domes). I guess I better study up or risk looking like an idiot!
http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols/aum.htm
Can't wait to see inside. Apparently they've been carving large solid marble statues of the deities for several months now. Hmmm, I wonder if pictures are permitted inside.
BTW, damn! The men & women are so fancily dressed at that place! The women's clothing is simply amazing, metallic gold, emerald greens, sapphire blues. A very good looking people. They seem quite nice & willing to answer my questions.
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