The nadaswaram (Tamil: நாதஸ்வரம் ) (Malayalam: നാദസ്വരം ) is a double reed wind instrument from Tamil Nadu. It is used as a traditional classical instrument in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.

This instrument is "among the world's loudest non-brass acoustic instruments." It is a wind instrument somewhat similar to the North Indian shehnai, but much longer. It has a hardwood body, a large flaring bell made of wood or metal, and a double reed instead of a quadruple reed.

In South Indian culture, the nadaswaram is considered very lucky and is a key musical instrument played in most Hindu weddings and temples of the South Indian tradition. It is part of a group of instruments called mangala vadyam (meaning "auspicious instrument"). The instrument is usually played in pairs, along with a pair of drums called thavil. It can also be played with a drone from a similar oboe called the ottu.

History

The nadasvaram is mentioned in many old Tamil writings, such as records that show land grants from the Vijayanagara Empire (around the mid-1400s) and inscriptions from Achyuta Deva Raya (about the 1530s). In these records, the instrument's name is written as nagaswaram or nakaswaram. A 17th-century musical guide called Padasangraham (பாதசங்கிரகம்) also describes an instrument named nagaswaram. The ancient story Cilappatikaram (around the 5th century) mentions an instrument called vangiyam, though this may have been a flute. The structure of this instrument matches that of the nadasvaram. Because it has seven holes that are played using seven fingers, it was also called "eḻil." This instrument is played in Tamil Nadu and is enjoyed by Tamil people living outside of Tamil Nadu.

Construction

The nadasvaram has three parts: kuḻal, thimiru, and anasu. It is a double reed instrument with a cone-shaped tube that gets wider toward the bottom. At the top, a metal piece called mel anaichu holds a small metal cylinder called kendai, which contains the mouthpiece made from reed. A small needle made of ivory or horn is attached to the instrument to remove saliva and dirt from the reed, ensuring air flows freely. The bottom of the instrument is shaped like a bell and is made of metal, called keeḻ anaichu.

The reed, called seevali, is made from dried grass. Traditionally, the body of the nadasvaram is made from a tree called aacha (Tamil: ஆச்சா; Hindi: अंजन). Today, other materials like bamboo, sandalwood, copper, brass, ebony, and ivory are also used. For wooden instruments, older wood is preferred, and sometimes wood from old buildings that were torn down is used.

The nadasvaram has seven finger holes and five additional holes at the bottom. These holes can be covered with wax to change the sound. The instrument can play a range of two and a half octaves, similar to the Indian bansuri flute. Both instruments use similar finger positions, but the nadasvaram creates semi and quarter tones by changing the air pressure and strength, not by partially covering the holes. Because it produces a very loud sound, the nadasvaram is usually played outdoors rather than in indoor spaces.

Players

Some of the earliest famous nadasvaram players are:

• T.N. Rajarathnam Pillai (1898–1956)
• Karukurichi Arunachalam (1921–1964)
• Thiruvizha Jayashankar (b. 1940)
• Semponnarkoil Brothers S R G Sambandam and Rajanna
• Dharumapuram S. Abiramisundaram Pillai and his son Dharumapuram A Govindarajan
• Sheik Chinna Moulana (1924–1999)
• Sheik Mahaboob Subhani
• Namagiripettai Krishnan (1924–2001)
• S. R. D. Vaidyanathan (1929–2013)
• Domada Chittabbayi (1930–2002)
• Umapathy Kandasamy (1950–2017)

American composers like Lewis Spratlan have shown appreciation for the nadasvaram. Some jazz musicians have also played the instrument. Charlie Mariano (1923–2009) was one of the few non-South Asians to play it, having studied it while living in India. Vinny Golia, J. D. Parran, and William Parker have performed and recorded with the instrument. The German saxophonist Roland Schaeffer also plays it, having studied with Karupaia Pillai from 1981 to 1985.

In popular culture

In the 1960s, two Tamil films, Konjum Salangai (1962) and Thillana Mohanambal (1968), included music from the nadasvaram instrument performed by characters. In Konjum Salangai, the actor Gemini Ganesan starred, and the nadasvaram music was composed by Karukurichi Arunasalam Pillai. In Thillana Mohanambal, the actor Sivaji Ganesan and A.V.M. Rajan played characters who performed the nadasvaram. For this film, the musicians Madurai Sethuraman and the Ponnusamy brothers provided the nadasvaram music. The director of Thillana Mohanambal, AP Nagarajan, dedicated the movie to the legendary musician Karukurichi Arunachalam.