The Swarabat, Swarbat or Swaragat is a rare plucked string instrument of the classical Carnatic music genre of South India.
Etymology
Although popularly known as Swarabat, its correct pronunciation is Swaragat.
from
Sanskrit connotes a note in the successive steps of the octave,
ghat refers to steps leading down towards a river, while
bhat in the language means scholar.
Construction
Like its Carnatic cousin, the
veena, it has
frets, a feature that also distinguishes it from their ancestor, the
Yazh harp (
ancient veena). Part of the chordophonic lute family of instruments, the Swarabat body is made of wood on which a skin is stretched.
On top of this skin, a bridge is placed upon which silk strings pass, which are plucked with a
plectrum carved out of horn. There is a resonator and a stem, both made of wood. The resonator is covered with animal hide. The frets were made from animal gut (usually a goat). The head resembles a parrot or peacock. The tuning pegs are fixed to the neck.
Sound
Although the Swarabat features a unique construction, the range of sound delivered by it is relatively limited. It produces a
timbre similar to a bass rubab and
bass guitar.
Use and history
The Swarabat is today a very rare string instrument used in Carnatic music, that once featured prominently as an original staple in the
Katcheri and
Harikatha stage ensembles of royal carpet composers.
Musicians in the royal courts of Mysore, Travancore, Thanjavur kingdom and the Thondaman dynasty of
Pudukottai favoured its unique bass tone accompaniment; students of the
Saraswati veena were often proficient in playing the Swarabat.
Old manuscripts, photographs and Swarabat instruments themselves have been preserved at museums worldwide.
See also
References and citations
