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Rudra vina

rudra vīṇā

Due to its complicated playing technique, the zither is exclusively a solo instrument for the highest-ranking musicians. The instrument also enjoys a privileged position in the mythological Hindu pantheon: Narada, the god of music and son of the creator Brahma, invented it and plays it for the gods.The player usually sits on the floor, with the instrument resting over his left shoulder with the resonating body close to the pegs. The string carrier lies across the chest with the strings facing outwards.The string carrier is made entirely of Indian ivory. Four metal strings are guided over two bridges and 13 frets and are tensioned by means of flank pegs. Two screwed-on ostrich eggs as resonators amplify the sound.

Due to its complicated playing technique, the zither is exclusively a solo instrument for the highest-ranking musicians. The instrument also enjoys a privileged position in the mythological Hindu pantheon: Narada, the god of music and son of the creator Brahma, invented it and plays it for the gods.The player usually sits on the floor, with the instrument resting over his left shoulder with the resonating body close to the pegs. The string carrier lies across the chest with the strings facing outwards.The string carrier is made entirely of Indian ivory. Four metal strings are guided over two bridges and 13 frets and are tensioned by means of flank pegs. Two screwed-on ostrich eggs as resonators amplify the sound.

Collection:
Franz Ferdinand von Österreich-Este (1863 Graz - 1914 Sarajevo) DNB

Time:
18th/19th century

Object Name
Stick zither

Culture
Indien

Material/technology:
Ivory, ostrich egg, steel

Copyright
Weltmuseum Wien

Invs.
102802