World Music



World Music

Introduction

The Ethnomusicologists continuously emphasized the significance of the common features in adapting the cultural and musical needs of the society. Whether lute, guitar, zither, or violin, the string instruments have a structural adaptability that lends itself to the music of diverse cultures. A variety of musical instruments was shifted from one culture to another as the geographical boundaries were bridged. These instruments brought the regions and cultures simultaneously creating integrity [9]. This paper discusses the role of Chordophones in India, Middle East, and Japan in their ancient and modern cultural and standard fit.ChordophonesA chordophone is a string musical instruments that make sound by string vibration or strings attached between two points. The chordophone is used in the musical activities all across the world. Despite the differences, they share obvious similarities in their shapes, methods of construction, and performance. Violin, lyres, guitars, and harps are some common examples of Chordophones. However, they also include the instruments which many people would hesitate to call string instruments including piano and musical bows [9].Role of Chordophones Across RegionsThe family of chordophone is ancient. The initial chordophone were used in the form of earth bows, which is haunting bow made of flexible stick and a rope. The instruments that are known today like zithers and harps developed from this first musical experience that was initiated by the ancestors across regions. With the passage of time, the people in past improved the techniques to make more sophisticated chordophones. They invented the devices that were used to increase sound intensity and resonance. The ancient people used to appreciate chordophones. For example, the Egyptians, Jews, Mesopotamians, Romans, and Greeks used harps, lyres, and zithers on the religious and cultural festivals. The transition from this early chordophone and today's; violins and guitars were not a hasty step. It took evolution and the emergence of diverse cultures. This heterogeneity brought innovation in the use of stringed instruments [11].IndiaThe tradition if music in India dates back to 3000 B.C. it makes the musical instruments some of the oldest traditions in the world. Indian music uses more than 500 instruments, and it has been the first musical system that used notation in the form of the Solgege syllables: do, re, mi, fa, ti, and la. A variety of vocals were developed in different provinces of India, including the rural songs, dance melodies, greeting songs, sacred hymns, and work songs for boatmen and fishermen. The musical instruments have their enormous importance. The musical instruments have contributed immensely in making India famous. Some of these instruments are used in Hindustani classical music and carnation music that belongs to southern India. Indian musical instruments have different forms. Some of them are stringed instruments, some are windblown instruments, and others are percussion instruments. The music played by them is melodious and is used to relax the senses. 

The Forms of Chordophones used in India.The plucked strings instruments of different kinds are used in India. Out of them Chordophones are the most meaningful ones. Chordophones such as Vina, the sarong, lute, and the sitar are most commonly used Chordophones in Indian musical culture. There are many forms of Chordophones used to India, but the most popular are ...