Topic started by Mani (@ spider-wl071.proxy.aol.com) on Sat Jun 16 21:57:56 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

There is an ancient instrument used in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, I think it is called "kombu" (not the one you see and hear in chendamelam), it curves outward, it is hard to describe the sound, but I'll try anyway. The sound is like a high pitch screeching sound, the sound "wiggles" then goes to a high pitch at the end, you hear it ALL the time in Tamil movies, especially in a lot of Illayaraja's songs, and it is often heard in pambaimelam. If anybody has any info on this instrument, and where I can get one, I would greatly appreciate it, thanks.

Responses:

• From: Ramadas (@ globalc41.citicorp.com) on: Sun Jun 17 08:17:57
  
  The only Kombu used for Keralite Traditional
  music is the "D-shaped" one used for
  Panchavaadyam, Chendamelam etc.
  
  
• From: Mani (@ spider-th063.proxy.aol.com) on: Sun Jun 17 23:51:36
  
  Ramadas,
  
  I know that, but a chendamelam I have heard not only included the "d" shaped kombu, but that "S" shaped kombu I mentioned above, I just wanted information on that one.
  
  
• From: Siby Koodalloor (@ 61.11.12.9) on: Mon Jun 18 08:57:54
  
  Mani,
  I think you are referring to the war trumpet (raNabhEri)used by Sultans of Sriranga patnam and other kings. That's S-shaped and its sound is not started on a bass as usually the case with kombu(D-shaped one). But this S-shaped trumpet is not used in maelams. But I remember once in a Malabar maelam (this is bandset with heavy drums as wide as vaarp/uruLi and the drums are beaten with knotted wooden sticks) there was a kind of kombu which I think had a different tone from the panchaavaadyam kombu. But this kombu was not S-shaped. I heard it some 15/16 years back during my parish feast.
  
  
• From: Mani (@ spider-wd061.proxy.aol.com) on: Mon Jun 18 11:15:28
  
  Siby,
  
  That might be it, but I don't know for sure. It has a wiggling screeching sound, and it is often heard in Tamil movies and songs. I think it is used often in Mariamman kovil functions.
  I remember a song in a Tamil movie I have seen, the movie is called "Thalaimurai", at the end of a song and in some scenes of the movie, this kind of kombu can be heard. The song is called "Dapanguthu", listen to the pambaimelam at the very end of this song, you can hear this kombu screeching, here is the link: http://www.swara.com/index3.shtml?string=Thalaimurai&index=movie
  
  Play the song "Dapanguthu".
  
  
• From: Soothram (@ webluis21.lib.usf.edu) on: Wed Oct 24 11:17:18
  
  I would also like to know about this instrument, when I watch a Tamil movie, any time their is a religious festival followed by paattu, I hear this screaching trumpet...is it also called srunga? I know it is kombu.
  
  
• From: Lakshman (@ kitchener-ppp111680.sympatico.ca) on: Wed Oct 24 17:48:06
  
  There is some info at: http://carnatic.musicpage.com
  Scroll down to musical Instruments and click.
  
  
• From: Soothram (@ webluis5.lib.usf.edu) on: Thu Oct 25 18:09:05
  
  Is it kombu? This instrument has the shape of an "s", and starts at a shrill "wiggly" note, and then fades off at a higher pitch. It is heard in about 80% of Tamil movies. Is it Kombu or Gowrikalam?
  
  
• From: Mani (@ spider-tr011.proxy.aol.com) on: Fri Nov 23 12:21:15
  
  Is it ekkalam?
  
  
• From: canistan (@ hse-toronto-ppp3490316.sympatico.ca) on: Tue Feb 12 17:30:42
  
  can you give me information on sri lankan
  insturments and pictures
  
  
• From: michael (@ tor58-21b-209-72.dialup.sprint-canada.net) on: Tue Dec 2 19:40:35
  
  ineed to know stuff aboutthe suprano like the contry in wich it originated the date when it was invented what the insturment was used for from what meterial the insturment was originally constructed from what meterial the insturment is most commonly made today and how its played
  
  
• From: John (@ c210-49-94-87.rochd1.qld.optusnet.com.au) on: Sat Dec 6 00:49:22 EST 2003
  
  At Queensland museum we have a Kombu with rattles in it! Has anyone ver heard of this?
  
  
• From: rockin (@ 202.68.154.210) on: Mon Dec 15 14:29:25 EST 2003
  
  http://www.indianguitartabs.com
  
  

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