Veena
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Veena (also spelled vina and veene) is a plucked stringed instrument used in Carnatic music. There are several variations of the veena, which is member of the lute family.
Veena designs have evolved over the years. Currently the most popular design is known as the Saraswati veena. This has twenty-four frets, four main strings which pass over the frets and are attached to the pegs of the neck, and three supporting strings, which pass over an arched bridge made of brass and are used as side strings for rhythmic accompaniment. The veena is played by sitting cross-legged and holding the instrument in front of oneself. The small gourd on the left rests on the left thigh, the left arm passing beneath with the left hand curved around the neck so that the fingers rest upon the frets. The veena's main body is placed on the floor, partially supported by the right thigh.
The patron Hindu goddess of learning and the arts, Mother Saraswati, is often depicted seated upon a swan or peacock and with a veena in hand.
Some other variations of the veena are the Rudra veena, Mahanataka veena, Vichitra veena, and Gottuvadhyam veena (also called the Chitra veena). Mohana veena is the name given to a modified form of guitar, invented and pouplarised by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and often confused with ancient Indian musical instruments.
[edit] Some famous veena players
- Chitti Babu
- S. Balachander
- Pappu Chandrasekhar
- Veena Dhanammal
- E. Gayathri
- Devakottai Narayana Iyengar
- Doraiswamy Iyengar
- Veena Julapalli
- Karaikkudi Brothers - Sambasiva Iyer & Subbarama Iyer
- Jayanthi Kumaresh
- Emani Kalyani Lakshminarayana
- N. Muralikrishnan
- R. Pichchumani
- Dr. Krishna Raghavendra
- Ayyagari Someswara Rao
- Pappu Someswara Rao
- N. Ravikiran
- M. K. Saraswathi
- Emani Sankara Shastri
- Veene Sheshanna
- Tanjavur K. P. Sivanandam
- Veena Subbanna
- Kalpakam Swaminathan
- Ayyagari Syamasundaram
- Anandapadmanabhan Thampi
- Rajesh Vaidhya
- Veena Venkatagiriappa
- R. Vishweshwaran
[edit] External links
- Various versions of the veena
- Entry on Musical Nirvana
- Detailed article on the veena
- Online Music Education - Video clip of Vichitra veena, article on Shruti Veena, theories and discussion.
- Beenkar Suvir Misra - A Versatile Vainika from the Hindustani Khayal Tradition.
[edit] Video
- Veena video from Robert Garfias site
- Saraswati Veena in Hindustani Khayal Video of Beenkar Suvir Misra playing Saraswati Veena in Hindustani Khayal Style.
- Rudra Veena Video A Rudra Veena Concert - Raga Malgunji.de:Vina
fr:Vinâ it:Vina kn:ವೀಣೆ ja:ヴィーナ nn:Vina pt:Vina ru:Вина (музыкальный инструмент) fi:Vina sv:Vina ta:வீணை
