Swarmandal - Revision history

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2025-09-13T06:40:23Z

quick correct details and added references per standard format

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:10, 13 September 2025
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			{{Short description\|Indian box zither}}
	{{For\|1997 film by the same name\|Dance of the Wind}}		{{For\|1997 film by the same name\|Dance of the Wind}}
	{{Infobox instrument		{{Infobox instrument
	\| name = Swarmandal ~~(स्वरमण्डल)~~		\| name = Swarmandal
	\| image = Jasraj 001.jpg		\| image = Jasraj 001.jpg
	\| image_size =250		\| image_size =250
	\| alt =Musician Jasraj with a swarmandal		\| alt =Musician Jasraj with a swarmandal
	\| caption =[[Jasraj]] with a swarmandal		\| caption =Pundit [[Jasraj]] with a swarmandal
	\| background =string		\| background =string
	\| names =Surmandal		\| names =Surmandal
Line 16:		Line 17:
	}}		}}

	The '''''swarmandal''''' ({{~~lang-~~hi\|स्वरमण्डल}} {{IPA-hi\|~~s̪ʋərmən̪ɖəl̪~~\|}}), '''''surmandal''''' or '''Indian harp''' is a plucked [[box zither]], originating from ~~the~~ [[~~Indian subcontinent~~]], similar to the [[Qanun (instrument)\|qanun]] that is today most commonly used as an accompanying instrument for vocal [[Hindustani classical music\|Indian classical music]].<ref name=grove>{{cite encyclopedia \|author = Alastair Dick \|editor-last= Sadie \|editor-first=Stanley \|entry= Swarmandal \|encyclopedia= The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments \|year=1984 \|id= Volume 3 \|page=477 \|quote=}}</ref> It is part of the culture of Northern India, used in concerts to accompany vocal music.<ref name=gov>{{cite web \|title=SWARMANDAL \|publisher = Government of India \|url= https://www.indianculture.gov.in/node/2686909}}</ref> The name combines ~~Sanscrit~~ words ''svara'' (notes) and ''maṇḍala'' (circle),<ref name=grove/> representing its ability to produce many notes. The instrument may be the same as the 13th century 21-string instrument called the ''mattakokilā'' (intoxicated cuckoo).<ref name=grovesurman>{{cite encyclopedia \|author = \|editor-last= Sadie \|editor-first=Stanley \|entry= Surmandal\|encyclopedia= The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments \|year=1984 \|id= Volume 3 \|page=477 \|quote= in...[[Sangita Ratnakara\|Sangītaratnākara]], a chordophone with 21 strings...is mentioned...does not make it clear whether this was a board zither or even whether the author had actually seen one...may have been a...harp-vīnā...}}</ref> The instrument was seen as equivalent by [[Ain-i-Akbari\|Ā'īn-i-akbarī]] ~~in the Mughal period~~ to the [[Qanun (instrument)\|qanun]].<ref name=grove/>		The '''''swarmandal''''' ({{langx\|hi\|स्वरमण्डल}} {{IPA\|hi\|s̪ʋərməɳɖəl̪\|}}), '''''surmandal''''', or '''Indian harp''' is a plucked [[box zither]], originating from [[India]], similar to the [[Qanun (instrument)\|qanun]] that is today most commonly used as an accompanying instrument for vocal [[Hindustani classical music\|Indian classical music]].<ref name=grove>{{cite encyclopedia \|author = Alastair Dick \|editor-last= Sadie \|editor-first=Stanley \|entry= Swarmandal \|encyclopedia= The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments \|year=1984 \|id= Volume 3 \|page=477 \|quote=}}</ref> It is part of the culture of Northern India and is used in concerts to accompany vocal music.<ref name=gov>{{cite web \|title=SWARMANDAL \|publisher = Government of India \|url= https://www.indianculture.gov.in/node/2686909}}</ref> The name combines [[Sanskrit]] words ''svara'' (notes) and ''maṇḍala'' (circle),<ref name=grove/> representing its ability to produce many notes. The instrument was seen as equivalent by the [[Ain-i-Akbari\|Ā'īn-i-akbarī]] to the [[Qanun (instrument)\|qanun]].<ref name="grove" />

	Modern swarmandals are similar to European [[psaltry\|psaltries]]. [[Autoharp]]s are used as an equivalent instrument in India today, especially with the chord-button mechanism taken out. Modern swarmandals are ~~"trapezoid or semi-trapezoid",~~ and measure ~~about 20 inches~~ in length and 11 in width. Instruments may have as many as 40 strings; older instruments from the 19th century were recorded as having 21 strings.<ref name=grove/><ref name=Day>{{cite book \|author= Charles Russell Day \|title= The music and musical instruments of southern India and the Deccan \|pages= 131–134 \|section= Plate VIII Svarmandala \|publisher= Novello, Ewer & Company \|date= 1891 \|place=New York & London\|url= https://archive.org/details/musicmusicalinst00dayc/page/n183/mode/2up}}</ref> The strings are hooked in a nail lodged in the right edge of the swarmandal and on the left are wound around tuning pegs which can be tightened with a special key.<ref name=grove/> Wooden pegs were used instead of metal ones in the medieval period. A sharp {{convert\|1/2\|in\|adj=on}} ridge on both sides of the swarmandal stands a little apart from the nails on which the strings are tightened. This ridge functions as a bridge on both sides. The swarmandal is similar to the [[autoharp]] or [[zither]] in many respects.		== Construction ==
			Modern swarmandals are similar to European [[psaltry\|psaltries]]. [[Autoharp]]s are used as an equivalent instrument in India today, especially with the chord-button mechanism taken out. Modern swarmandals are trapezoidal and measure {{Convert\|51\|cm\|in\|abbr=on}} in length and {{Convert\|28\|cm\|in\|abbr=on}} width. Instruments may have as many as 40 strings, while older instruments from the 19th century were recorded as having 21 strings.<ref name="grove" /><ref name="Day">{{cite book \|author= Charles Russell Day \|title= The music and musical instruments of southern India and the Deccan \|pages= 131–134 \|section= Plate VIII Svarmandala \|publisher= Novello, Ewer & Company \|date= 1891 \|place=New York & London\|url= https://archive.org/details/musicmusicalinst00dayc/page/n183/mode/2up}}</ref> The strings are hooked in a nail lodged in the right edge of the swarmandal and on the left are wound around tuning pegs which can be tightened with a special key.<ref name="grove" /> Wooden pegs were used instead of metal ones in the medieval period. A sharp {{convert\|1/2\|in\|adj=on}} ridge on both sides of the swarmandal stands a little apart from the nails on which the strings are tightened. This ridge functions as a bridge on both sides. The swarmandal is similar to the [[autoharp]] or [[zither]] in many respects.

	In the 19th century, a writer commented that good performances on the instrument were rare, because ~~the instrument~~ was difficult to play, ~~and~~ at the time ~~was~~ expensive to buy.<ref name=Day/> Today, there are modern artists who have performed with the instrument. Some of the vocalists who have used this instrument extensively are [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]] (1902–1968), [[Salamat Ali Khan]] (1934–2003), [[Jasraj]] (b. 1930), [[Kishori Amonkar]] (1932–2017), [[Rashid Khan (musician)\|Rashid Khan]] (b. 1966) and [[Ajoy Chakrabarty]] (b. 1952).		== History ==
			{{Expand section\|date=May 2022}}
			The swarmandal may be the same as {{Speculation inline}} the 13th-century instrument known as the ''mattakokilā'' (intoxicated cuckoo).<ref name="grovesurman">{{cite encyclopedia \|year=1984 \|encyclopedia=The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments \|id=Volume 3 \|editor-last=Sadie \|editor-first=Stanley \|page=477 \|quote=in...[[Sangita Ratnakara\|Sangītaratnākara]], a chordophone with 21 strings...is mentioned...does not make it clear whether this was a board zither or even whether the author had actually seen one...may have been a...harp-vīnā... \|author= \|entry=Surmandal}}</ref> In the [[Mughal Empire\|Mughal period]], the swarmandal was seen as equivalent by the [[Ain-i-Akbari\|Ā'īn-i-akbarī]] to the [[Qanun (instrument)\|qanun]].<ref name="grove" /> In the 19th century, a writer{{Who\|date=May 2022}} commented that good performances on the instrument were rare, because it was difficult to play and, at the time, expensive to buy.<ref name="Day" />

	[[~~The~~ Beatles]]' 1967 single "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]" ~~features a swarmandal~~, played ~~by [[George Harrison]], as does~~ "[[Within You Without You]]" ~~(played by Indian musicians)~~, from the band's ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' album.<ref>{{cite ~~web~~ \|~~publisher~~= ~~Rolling Stone Magazine~~ \|title= ~~Paul~~ on ~~Drums, George on Bass: 10 Great Beatles Instrument Swaps~~\|~~author~~= ~~Ryan Reed~~ \|date= ~~31 August 2019 \|url=~~ https://www.~~rollingstone~~.com/~~music~~/~~music-lists~~/~~paul~~-on-~~drums~~-~~george~~-on-~~bass~~-10-~~great~~-~~beatles~~-~~instrument~~-~~swaps-65353/\|quote= "Strawberry Fields Forever,"..~~. McCartney adds Mellotron and booming timpani; Lennon supplements his inquisitive acoustic guitar progression with piano and bongos; Ringo pounds home decorative drum fills; and Harrison sneaks in descending lines with the swarmandal, an Indian harp}}</ref><ref>{{cite ~~web~~ \|~~author~~= ~~Richard Havers~~ \|~~date~~= ~~15 March 2021~~ \|title= ~~The Making Of~~ George ~~Harrison’s ‘Within You Without You’~~ \|~~website~~=~~U Discover Music~~ \|~~url~~= ~~https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/within~~-~~you~~-~~without~~-~~you/~~ \|~~quote~~= ~~George was the only Beatle in the studio that day, and it’s him and Neil Aspinall playing tamburas, with the dilruba and swarmandal played by Indian musicians...~~}}</ref>		== In popular culture ==
			Several modern artists have performed with the instrument. Some of the vocalists who have used it extensively are [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]], [[Salamat Ali Khan]], [[Jasraj]], [[Rajan and Sajan Mishra\|Rajan Sajan Mishra]], [[Kishori Amonkar]], [[Rashid Khan (musician)\|Rashid Khan]], and [[Ajoy Chakrabarty]]. After travelling to India in late 1966, [[George Harrison]] introduced the swarmandal into [[the Beatles]]' sound on their 1967 single "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]".<ref>{{cite book\|last=Babiuk\|first=Andy\|author-link=Andy Babiuk\|year=2002\|title=Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments, from Stage to Studio\|publisher=Backbeat Books\|location=San Francisco, CA\|isbn=978-0-87930-731-8\|page=193\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=Eo743Uh2UOEC}}}}</ref> He also played it on his Indian classical-style composition "[[Within You Without You]]", from the band's ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' album.<ref name="Elwood/SFExaminer">{{cite news\|first=Philip\|last=Elwood\|title=Last Respects to Beatles in an Album That Turns on\|work=[[San Francisco Examiner]]\|date=3 June 1967}} Available at [https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-beatles-isgt-peppers-lonely-hearts-club-bandi-capitol-smas-2653 Rock's Backpages] (subscription required).</ref><ref>{{cite book\|last=Clayson\|first=Alan\|title=George Harrison\|publisher=Sanctuary\|location=London\|year=2003\|isbn=1-86074-489-3\|pages=212–13}}</ref>

	<gallery>		<gallery>
	File:Bade Ghulam Ali Khan 2003 stamp of India.jpg\|Bade Ghulam Ali Khan featured on an Indian stamp with the swarmandal		File:Bade Ghulam Ali Khan 2003 stamp of India.jpg\|Bade Ghulam Ali Khan featured on an Indian stamp with the swarmandal
	~~File:Kishori Amankar 3.jpg\|Kishori Amonkar performing with her swarmandal~~
	File:Ustad rashid kan bharat bhavan bhopal (4).JPG\|Rashid Khan playing swarmandal		File:Ustad rashid kan bharat bhavan bhopal (4).JPG\|Rashid Khan playing swarmandal
			File:Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra Performing at Bharat Bhavan Bhopal 06.jpg\|Pandit Rajan Mishra singing with swarmandal
	</gallery>		</gallery>

	==See also==		==See also==
	* [[Drone (music)]]		* [[Drone (music)]]
			* [[Hindustani classical music]]
			* [[Zither]]

	==References==		==References==

imported>Tom.Reding: +{{Authority control}} (1 ID from Wikidata), WP:GenFixes on

2021-06-07T16:10:54Z

+{{Authority control}} (1 ID from Wikidata), WP:GenFixes on

New page

{{For|1997 film by the same name|Dance of the Wind}}
{{Infobox instrument
| name = Swarmandal (स्वरमण्डल)
| image = Jasraj 001.jpg
| image_size =250
| alt =Musician Jasraj with a swarmandal
| caption =[[Jasraj]] with a swarmandal
| background =string
| names =Surmandal
|classification=([[Chordophone]]), [[String instrument]]
|hornbostel_sachs=314.122-5,6
|hornbostel_sachs_desc=Resonated [[box zither]], plucked by fingers or a [[plectrum]]
| inventors =
| developed =Probably imported with conquerors or traders in medieval period and adapted to suit Indian culture. May have roots in a native instrument called the ''mattakokilā''.
| related = {{bulleted list|[[autoharp]]|[[board zither]]|[[zither|box zither]]|[[psaltery]]|[[Qanun (instrument)|qanun]]|}}
}}

The '''''swarmandal''''' ({{lang-hi|स्वरमण्डल}} {{IPA-hi|s̪ʋərmən̪ɖəl̪|}}), '''''surmandal''''' or '''Indian harp''' is a plucked [[box zither]], originating from the [[Indian subcontinent]], similar to the [[Qanun (instrument)|qanun]] that is today most commonly used as an accompanying instrument for vocal [[Hindustani classical music|Indian classical music]].<ref name=grove>{{cite encyclopedia |author = Alastair Dick |editor-last= Sadie |editor-first=Stanley |entry= Swarmandal |encyclopedia= The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments |year=1984 |id= Volume 3 |page=477 |quote=}}</ref> It is part of the culture of Northern India, used in concerts to accompany vocal music.<ref name=gov>{{cite web |title=SWARMANDAL |publisher = Government of India |url= https://www.indianculture.gov.in/node/2686909}}</ref> The name combines Sanscrit words ''svara'' (notes) and ''maṇḍala'' (circle),<ref name=grove/> representing its ability to produce many notes. The instrument may be the same as the 13th century 21-string instrument called the ''mattakokilā'' (intoxicated cuckoo).<ref name=grovesurman>{{cite encyclopedia |author = |editor-last= Sadie |editor-first=Stanley |entry= Surmandal|encyclopedia= The New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments |year=1984 |id= Volume 3 |page=477 |quote= in...[[Sangita Ratnakara|Sangītaratnākara]], a chordophone with 21 strings...is mentioned...does not make it clear whether this was a board zither or even whether the author had actually seen one...may have been a...harp-vīnā...}}</ref> The instrument was seen as equivalent by [[Ain-i-Akbari|Ā'īn-i-akbarī]] in the Mughal period to the [[Qanun (instrument)|qanun]].<ref name=grove/>

Modern swarmandals are similar to European [[psaltry|psaltries]]. [[Autoharp]]s are used as an equivalent instrument in India today, especially with the chord-button mechanism taken out. Modern swarmandals are "trapezoid or semi-trapezoid", and measure about 20 inches in length and 11 in width. Instruments may have as many as 40 strings; older instruments from the 19th century were recorded as having 21 strings.<ref name=grove/><ref name=Day>{{cite book |author= Charles Russell Day |title= The music and musical instruments of southern India and the Deccan |pages= 131–134 |section= Plate VIII Svarmandala |publisher= Novello, Ewer & Company |date= 1891 |place=New York & London|url= https://archive.org/details/musicmusicalinst00dayc/page/n183/mode/2up}}</ref> The strings are hooked in a nail lodged in the right edge of the swarmandal and on the left are wound around tuning pegs which can be tightened with a special key.<ref name=grove/> Wooden pegs were used instead of metal ones in the medieval period. A sharp {{convert|1/2|in|adj=on}} ridge on both sides of the swarmandal stands a little apart from the nails on which the strings are tightened. This ridge functions as a bridge on both sides. The swarmandal is similar to the [[autoharp]] or [[zither]] in many respects.

In the 19th century, a writer commented that good performances on the instrument were rare, because the instrument was difficult to play, and at the time was expensive to buy.<ref name=Day/> Today, there are modern artists who have performed with the instrument. Some of the vocalists who have used this instrument extensively are [[Bade Ghulam Ali Khan]] (1902–1968), [[Salamat Ali Khan]] (1934–2003), [[Jasraj]] (b. 1930), [[Kishori Amonkar]] (1932–2017), [[Rashid Khan (musician)|Rashid Khan]] (b. 1966) and [[Ajoy Chakrabarty]] (b. 1952).

[[The Beatles]]' 1967 single "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]" features a swarmandal, played by [[George Harrison]], as does "[[Within You Without You]]" (played by Indian musicians), from the band's ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band]]'' album.<ref>{{cite web |publisher= Rolling Stone Magazine |title= Paul on Drums, George on Bass: 10 Great Beatles Instrument Swaps|author= Ryan Reed |date= 31 August 2019 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/paul-on-drums-george-on-bass-10-great-beatles-instrument-swaps-65353/|quote= "Strawberry Fields Forever,"... McCartney adds Mellotron and booming timpani; Lennon supplements his inquisitive acoustic guitar progression with piano and bongos; Ringo pounds home decorative drum fills; and Harrison sneaks in descending lines with the swarmandal, an Indian harp}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= Richard Havers |date= 15 March 2021 |title= The Making Of George Harrison’s ‘Within You Without You’ |website=U Discover Music |url= https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/within-you-without-you/ |quote= George was the only Beatle in the studio that day, and it’s him and Neil Aspinall playing tamburas, with the dilruba and swarmandal played by Indian musicians...}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Bade Ghulam Ali Khan 2003 stamp of India.jpg|Bade Ghulam Ali Khan featured on an Indian stamp with the swarmandal
File:Kishori Amankar 3.jpg|Kishori Amonkar performing with her swarmandal
File:Ustad rashid kan bharat bhavan bhopal (4).JPG|Rashid Khan playing swarmandal
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Drone (music)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Zithers}}
{{Indian musical instruments}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindustani musical instruments]]
[[Category:Box zithers]]