The dotara or dotar
( dütüra, দোতৰা dütora, ; dotora), (literally, “Of or two strings”) is a two-stringed, plucked musical instrument from South Asia, with most contemporary models having four playing strings (similar to the sarod). Comparatively, the sarod is a slightly larger and more elaborate instrument, being built with an additional set of resonant sympathetic strings. However, the dotara is still quite resonant and projective of its own sound, due to its rounded shape and overall construction. It is commonly played in Bangladesh (where it is known as the national instrument)
Etymology
The word is from Eastern Indo-Aryan (do târ), literally "two strings", or “double-stringed”, with the suffix “-a” indicating “having, -ed”. The instrument is known as
dotara or
dütara (, ) and
dütüra (). Additionally, it was believed to have been called dotara due to the strings being of equal pitch in tuning.
History
Madhava Kandali, 14th century
Assamese people poet and writer of Saptakanda Ramayana, lists several instruments in his version of "Ramayana", such as Dotara,
Pakhavaj,
Tabla,
Anklet etc.
Construction
The dotara is a plucked stringed instrument, played in an open note combination, often played alongside folk percussive instruments such as
Dhol,
Khhol or Mandira. It is made out of
neem or other hardwood, with an elongated, roundish belly for a soundbox, which tapers to a narrow neck culminating in a peg box which is often elaborately carved in the shape of a peacock-head, swan-head or other animal motifs. The fingerboard is fretless and made of brass or steel, as in a sarod. The soundbox of the instrument is covered with a tightly stretched
kidskin or lizard-skin, as in a rabaab or a sarod.
Tuning
With four strings, the dotara is tuned as follows (from top to bottom)—Soh (lower)-Do-Do-Fah. The Indian notation would read: Pa - Sa - Sa - Ma with Do/Sa being the tonic/root note of the song.
See also
External links
