Dotara
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The dotara (or dotar) (
.Etymology
The word is from Eastern Indo-Aryan (do târ), literally "two strings", or “double-stringed”, with the suffix “-a” indicating “having, -ed”. The instrument is known as dotara or dütara (Bengali: দোতারা, Assamese: দোতাৰা) and dütüra (Assamese: দোতোৰা). Additionally, it was believed to have been called dotara due to the strings being of equal pitch in tuning.
History
Madhava Kandali, 14th century Assamese poet and writer of Saptakanda Ramayana, lists several instruments in his version of "Ramayana", such as Dotara, mardala, tabal, jhajhar etc.[3]
Variations
The dotara is one of the most important instruments used in various genres of folk music in Bengal and Assam. It has two main forms, the Bangla and the bhawaiya (Assamese form). The Bangla form originated in the Rahr Bangla region, where it is still predominantly played. It has metal strings, which give it a brighter tone than other instruments played in the area. Although a dotara can have 4-5 strings, most playing is done primarily on two strings, hence the name.
The bhawaiya form is almost extinct in contemporary times, that has a more primeval beginning[
Construction
The dotara is a plucked stringed instrument, played in an open note combination, often played alongside folk percussive instruments such as
Tuning
With four strings, the dotara is tuned as follows (from top to bottom)—Soh (lower)-Do-Do-Fah. The Indian notation would read: Pa - Sa - Sa - Ma with Do/Sa being the tonic/root note of the song.
See also
References
- ^ Begum, Rumena Mohima. "Musicians Stories". World on Your Street. BBC. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
The dotara is the national instrument of Bangladesh.
- ^ "The Stringed Instrument Database: Index". Stringedinstrumentdatabase.comoj.com. Retrieved 2015-12-05.
- ^ Suresh Kant Sharma; Usha Sharma (2015). Discovery of North-East India. Mittal Publications. p. 288.
External links
- Ahmed, Wakil (2012). "Dotara". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.