Rare Instruments of India (Tabla Tarang / Dilruba / Sur Bahar) (Audio CD)

Tabla Tarang is a take off from the Tabla and makes this rhythmic accompaniment a melodic instrument by using a number of treble. These drums are tuned to the various notes of the octave which enables the player to coax ragas and melodies from them. The Tabla player who has attained finesse in playing his instrument may venture into tabla tarang playing and become the main player. Disjunet notes and limited range (not more than 16 instruments can be played because the player cannot reach out to too many) are the limitation of the instrument. Yet it is a novelty as it turns a rhythmic instrument into melody instrument. Sound is produced by striking the tablas with the fingers and is both mellow and melodious.

Dilruba is a stringed instrument of the bowed variety with a finger board and frets which resemble the sitar. The instrument resembles the sarangi ; its belly too is covered with skin and it too is played with a bow. All the nuances of the sarangi are possible on the Dilruba, which makes both instruments ideal as accompaniment as also solo play.

Surbahar also known as bass sitar, is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of North India. It has a deep, sonorous and ringing tone. The popularity of the sitar as a classical instrument has all but eclipsed the surbahar.