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{{Short description|Tribal instrument from Western India}}

'''Tarpa''' (Marathi: तारपा) is a tribal instrument originating from Western India. It is a [[wind instrument]], played by blowing into a reservoir chamber that is connected to two bamboo pipes which are attached to a resonating chamber.<ref name=":0">Bankar, V.V., and Dr. P.P. Sharma. 2016. "Ethno-musico-botanical studies from Toranmal region, Nandurbar District, Maharashtra, India." ''The South Asian Academic Research Chronicle'' 3 (2): 56-62.</ref> The makers and players of this instrument primarily belong to the [[Warli|Warli tribe]] of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Tarpa, alongside the [[Dhol]] is the primary instrument played at Warli gatherings and festivities. Other associated aspects of Warli life and culture pay heed to the Tarpa playing a significant role for the community- the dance form performed with the music of the instrument, is also referred to as Tarpa-dance,<ref name=":1">Kurane, Anjali. 2004. "Commercialization of Art of the Varlis in Maharashtra." ''The Oriental Anthropologist'' 4 (2): 163-168.</ref> and the Tarpa event is a prominent motif featured in [[Warli painting|Warli paintings]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=2014 TARPA |url=http://www.vayeda.in/2014-tarpa.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=Warli Painting, Warli Tribal Art , Traditional art of india, Tushar vayeda, Mayur Vayeda |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">Patil, Dr. Kavita. 2017. "Warli art: Diversification of traditional painting creating future, hope & happiness." ''International Journal of Home Science'' 3 (3): 451-456.</ref>

== Construction ==
In its construction, the Tarpa is a [[Single-reed instrument]] with two pipes possessing free-beating reeds (in principle similar to the [[Pungi]] or the [[Hulusi]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Courtney |first=David |title=Tarpa or Pavri |url=https://chandrakantha.com/music-and-dance/instrumental-music/indian-instruments/tarpa/ |access-date= |website=chandrakantha.com}}</ref> The structure of the instrument can be divided into three parts - the reservoir chamber or a wind chest with a mouth-blowing hole, the bamboo pipes with holes for controlling pitch, and the [[Acoustic resonance|resonant]] horn chamber with a hole for amplifying the sound. Its size ranges between 2 and 6 feet.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /> The size of the instrument may vary depending on the sizes of the components used in its making. The primary components of this instrument are dried [[Calabash|bottle gourd]], bamboo, bee's wax (which is used as an adhesive and sealant) and dried [[Borassus flabellifer|toddy]] leaves.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Free reed aerophone|free reed]] in the Tarpa is made out of bamboo and is connected to two bamboo pipes which have three finger holes that change the pitch as well as an air duct on the top-end of one pipe which is used as a [[Fingering (music)|cross-fingering]] stop. A dried up bottle gourd is attached to the reed, with the bamboo pipes extending out of one end of the gourd. This attachment is joined using beeswax. The open end of the bottle gourd acts as the mouthpiece into which the player blows air. Often, this gourd is ornamented with paint and feathers. Opposite to the bottle-gourd, the other ends of the bamboo pipes are attached with a horn-like resonator made out of dried coconut leaves. These leaves are folded to form a chamber around the axis of the two bamboo pipes.<ref name=":4">{{Citation |title=The Tarpa Player (8K) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77dWVhqNRlc |access-date=2023-04-27 |language=en}}</ref> This horn is also often painted and decorated. The resonator chamber can also have an additional bamboo reed suspended on its inner surface using a cloth string. The instrument is entirely hand-made, without using mechanical implements, and constructed using organic forest produce of the region.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Citation |title=Tarpa Documentary {{!}} Musicbed Challenge |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlw4ibUrnAI |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Technique and Sound ===
The Tarpa has two bamboo pipes that are played vertically and create a sound based on the air-columns in the bamboo, similar to a vertical [[flute]]. The two bamboo pipes are colloquially referred to as the "male" and "female" sounds to indicate the difference in [[octave]]. Both pipes can be used to play either the [[Drone (sound)|drone]] or the [[melody]]. The player blows air through the top gourd tube, typically this portion is tied to the player's head to secure the instrument. The air flows into both pipes and the player can control which voice plays the melody between the two bamboos. The combination of the drone with a free melody across octaves on top produces a texture similar to [[bagpipes]]. Typically, the Tarpa is played solo and the performer establishes the rhythm as per the composition's and dance's requirement, in conjunction with the dancers [[Beat (music)|beating]] sticks.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> As it is a solo drone-based instrument, controlled [[circular breathing]] is required to play the instrument.<ref name=":4" />

== Tarpa in Warli Culture ==
In Warli Culture, Tarpa is believed to have been given to the tribe by Warli [[Narayana|God]], [[Naran (God)|Naran]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=KAMBLE |first1=V.C. |last2=RANSURE |first2=P.V. |title=Folk and Folk-Lore Culture of Maharashtra |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42931206 |journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute |volume=68/69 |pages=191–205 |jstor=42931206 |issn=0045-9801}}</ref> Often in marriage ceremonies, the Tarpa is played along with the Dhol.<ref name=":6" /> The period of the year during which the instrument is traditionally prescribed to be performed is said to lie between the harvest in September and the festival of [[Diwali]] (in October or November).<ref name=":2" /> The restrictions against its performance is not thoroughly discussed, and other literature mentions the performance of Tarpa during [[Holi]]<ref name=":6" /> and other auspicious occasions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pared |first=Mamta |title=Have you ever heard the hypnotic notes of the Tarpa pipe? |url=https://cjp.org.in/have-you-ever-heard-the-hypnotic-notes-of-the-tarpa-pipe/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=CJP |language=en-US}}</ref> The musician is said to perform compositions that bring blessings to village crop harvest and usher peace and joy amongst the members of the tribe.<ref name=":4" /> Sometimes even non-tribal residents of the village patronize the Tarpa performance to symbolically consecrate the field for healthy crops. As an event, the music and dance performance centered around this instrument is said to start around sunset and progress through the night into dawn.<ref name=":3" />

At a semiotic level, this instrument is a widely used symbol in Warli paintings,<ref name=":2" /> which are the most popularly commercialized products of Warli people.<ref name=":1" /> The motif of the Tarpa player in the center of a circle of men and women clasping and dancing is showcased on many examples of Warli paintings.<ref name=":3" /> Parallelly, the Tarpa motif also acts as a representative of Warli culture in popular media.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Warli Revolt ft Prakash Bhoir {{!}} Swadesi {{!}} Azadi Records (AZR012) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYADNgIkelY |access-date=2023-04-28 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pune International Film Festival |url=https://www.piffindia.com/tribal-competition-list-2020.php |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.piffindia.com}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Tribal art]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian musical instruments]]
[[Category:Tribal art]]

Tarpa (instrument) - Revision history

Mohammad Nayem: Added a new contribution to the website.