We were recently invited to perform for the UNESCO’s City of Music programme in Germany, where we represented India and Carnatic Music. As part of our concert, we collaborated with a German ensemble and had a chance to listen to a rare Indian string instrument, Taus being played by a German lady.
Intrigued by its sound and peacock-shaped structure we decided to explore this instrument. Taus, which falls under the category of Chordophones, belongs mainly to North and Central India, with specific connection to Punjab. It is associated with the Sikh saints and mainly used in devotional music.
‘Taus’, a Persian word, denotes a peacock. The neck of this peacock-shaped instrument holds a long wooden rack with 20 heavy metal frets. On top of the instrument, there are four main strings that run along the fingerboard. There are four pegs for these main strings that are made of either wood or steel. The main strings are usually tuned to shadjam, madhyamam and panchamam.
Apart from the main strings, there are around 30 sympathetic or resonant strings that are attached to the pegs located on the side of the instrument. The main strings, made usually of metal, pass through a bridge that is traditionally made of ivory or bone but more often of rosewood. The notes from the first fret of the last string start from the mandra sthayi madhyama and go up to tara sthayi gandhara.
Taus is usually made from one piece high-quality wood, usually the Tun wood, which is similar to the red cedar. At the tail portion of the instrument is the sound hole. The instrument has a large resonating chamber. The sound chamber of the Taus is bigger in size and is covered with wood or goat skin. The peacock feet, carved in wood, holds the instrument. Sometimes peacock feathers are attached to the instrument as an embellishment.
The Taus is played with a bow, a bit concave in structure. The bow has the frog and the upper portion similar to that of the violin. The index, middle finger and the thumb of the right hand hold the stick portion of the bow, while the ring finger is placed near the frog and the little finger is kept below the bow hair. Long bowing is special to this instrument. The bow hair, made of nylon, is coated in Rosin like the way it is appliedto the bow of the violin.
The playing techniques are more similar to that of the violin. The left hand fingers produce the melody while the right hand fingers hold the bow to strike the strings. The index and middle fingers of the left hand are used to play the notes, sometimes the ring finger is used to play certain phrases.
Taus artistes mostly play seated on the floor, with either one leg or both tucked in, the top portion of the instrument resting on the performer’s shoulder..
Taus’s construction and playing technique are also akin to Dilruba, another string instrument mostly used in the North. Scholars say that Dilruba originated from Taus.
While some say that Taus was invented by Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, there are others who think that it was created by Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th guru of the Sikhs and was a poet . As a master of the Persian language, it is said that he gave the instrument a Persian name in the language and he could play it.
Taus is part of Gurbani kirtan/Shabad kirtan, where the performer recites the hymns while playing the instrument.
The writers are well-known Carnatic musicians
