Flute

This article is about the musical instrument. For the sailing ship, see Fluyt. For the drinkware, see Champagne flute.

The Indian flutes

The Indian flute, one of the oldest instruments of Indian classical music, appears to have developed independently of the western flute. The Hindu god Krishna is said to be a master of the instrument. The Indian flutes are very simple instruments when compared with their western counterparts; they are made of bamboo and are keyless. The pitch of Indian flutes is not standardized, and is largely left to the personal preference of the artist.

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Two main varieties of Indian flutes are currently used. The first is the Bansuri, which has six finger holes and one blowing hole, is used predominantly in Hindustani music, the music of north India. The second is the Pulanguzhal, which has eight finger holes, is predominantly used in Carnatic music, the music of south India. The south Indian flute had only seven finger holes till the 1970s when the legendary T. R. Mahalingam introduced the eight holed variety.

Related Topics:
Bansuri - Hindustani music - Carnatic music

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