>Tom.Reding at 16:37, 7 June 2021

2021-06-07T16:37:29Z

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The '''dilruba''' (also spelt '''dilrupa''')<ref name="madhumita">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxsy28eStmAC&pg=PT23 |title=Let's Know Music and Musical Instruments of India |last=Dutta |first=Madhumita |publisher=Star Publications |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-905863-29-7 |pages=22–23}}</ref> is a [[Bowed instrument|bowed]] [[musical instrument]] originating in [[India]]. It is slightly larger than an [[esraj]] and has a larger, square [[resonance]] box. The dilruba holds particular importance in [[Sikhs|Sikh]] history.

It attained more global prominence in the 1960s through its appearance in songs by Western artists, such as [[the Beatles]] during their psychedelic phase (most notably in the song "[[Within You Without You]]").

==Etymology==
The name of the instrument derives from the [[Persianization|Persianized]] [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] word دلربا/दिलरुबा (''dilrubā''), literally meaning "that which ravishes or steals the heart."<ref name="lr232">{{Cite web |last=Khalsa |first=Sukhmandir |title=Dilruba: Ravisher of the Heart |url=https://www.learnreligions.com/dilruba-ravisher-of-the-heart-2993034#:~:text=Dilruba%20may%20be%20interpreted%20to,root%20word%20dil%2C%20meaning%20heart. |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=Learning Religions |publication-date=4 June 2017}}</ref>

==History==
The dilruba was invented around 300 years ago by the 10th Sikh [[Guru]], [[Guru Gobind Singh]], who based it off of the much older and much heavier [[Taus (instrument)|taus]].<ref name=madhumita/><ref>{{cite book|author=Dharam Singh|title=Perspectives on Sikhism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xXzXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT158|year=2001|publisher=Publication Bureau, Punjabi University|isbn=978-8-1738-0736-7|pages=158}}</ref> His innovations made it more convenient for the Sikh army (the ''[[khalsa]]'') to carry the instrument on horseback.<ref name="radioandmusic">{{Cite web|url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/features/180329-rarely-played-indian-instruments|title=Rarely played Indian instruments|date=2018-03-29|website=Radioandmusic.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-26}}</ref> Examining the sources in the prior sentences, an attempt has been made, but they have not provided any valid historical connection of the dilruba to the court of Guru Gobind Singh. Rather, the dilruba was widely known to have been created to accompany the Khayal format of singing many decades later, and therefore would not have found itself in Gurbani Sangeet within any of the Sikh Gurus' courts. In fact, traditional kirtan bearers, such as Bhai Avtar Singh Raagi have clarified the history of the dilruba's creation being tied to the patronage of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and created by Mahant Gajja Singh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clearing misconceptions on the history of the Dilruba - Bhai Avtar Singh Ji Ragi |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyGVUpT8DoY&ab_channel=JivanpalSingh}}</ref>

==Construction==
The structure of the dilruba has a medium-sized [[sitar]]-like neck with 20 heavy metal frets. This neck holds on to a long wooden rack of 12-15 sympathetic strings. The dilruba has four main strings, all of which are bowed and made of metal. The soundboard is a stretched piece of goatskin similar to what is found on a [[sarangi]]. Sometimes, the instrument has a gourd affixed to the top for balance or for tone enhancement. The instrument can be rested between the knees while the player kneels, or more commonly rested on the knee of the player while sitting, or also on the floor just in front of the player, with their neck leaning on the left shoulder. It is played using a bow, with the other hand moving along the strings above the frets. The player may slide the note up or down to achieve the portamento, or meend, as is characteristic of [[Indian music]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discoversikhism.com/sikh_saaj/dilruba.html|title= Dilruba|date=2020-03-08|website=Discover Sikhism|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-08}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tarang-classical-indian-music.com/indian_musical_instruments/dilrupa.htm Indian Musical Instruments]

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[[Category:Indian musical instruments]]

Dilruba - Revision history

>Tom.Reding at 16:37, 7 June 2021