Bansuri

Other names	Murali, Bansi, Baashi, Baanhi
Classification	Indian Woodwind Instrument
Playing range
2.5 Octaves (six-hole), 3 Octaves (seven-hole)
Related instruments
Venu
Musicians
List of Indian Flautists
More articles
Hindustani classical music, Pannalal Ghosh, Hariprasad Chaurasia

The bansuri (Hindi: बांसुरी, Nepali: बाँसुरी, Marathi: बासरी, Assamese: বাঁহি, Bengali: বাঁশি) is a transverse flute of India made from a single hollow shaft of bamboo with six or seven finger holes. An ancient musical instrument associated with cowherds and the pastoral tradition, it is intimately linked to the love story of Krishna and Radha, and is depicted in Buddhist paintings from around 100 AD. The Bansuri is revered as Lord Krishna's divine instrument, and is often associated with Krishna's Rasa lila; mythological accounts tell of the tunes of Krishna's flute having a spellbinding and enthralling effect not only on the women of the Braj, but even on the animals of the region. The North Indian bansuri, typically about 14 inches in length, was traditionally used as a soprano instrument primarily for accompaniment in lighter compositions including film music. The bass variety (approximately 30", tonic E3 at A440Hz), pioneered by Pt. Pannalal Ghosh and elevated to heights of global renown by the brilliance of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia has now been indispensable in Hindustani Classical music for well over half a century. Bansuris range in size from less than 12" to nearly 40".

History[link]

Hariprasad Chaurasia playing the Bansuri

The word bansuri originates in the Sanskrit bans [bamboo] + sur [melody]. There are two varieties of bansuri: transverse, and fipple. The fipple flute is usually played in folk music and is held at the lips like a whistle. Because it enables superior control, variations and embellishments, the transverse variety is preferred in Indian classical music.

Pandit Pannalal Ghosh (1911–1960) elevated the Bansuri from a folk instrument to the stage of serious classical music.^[1] He experimented with the length, bore and number of holes, and found that longer length and larger bore allowed for better coverage of the lower octaves. He eventually pioneered longer bansuris with larger bores and a seventh hole placed a quarter turn inwards from the line of the other six finger holes.

Construction[link]

Bansuri construction is a complex art. The bamboo suitable for making a bansuri needs to possess several qualities. It must be thin walled and straight with a uniform circular cross section and long internodes. Being a natural material, it is difficult to find bamboo shafts with all these characteristics, which in turn makes good bansuris rare and expensive. Suitable species of bamboo (such as Pseudostachyum) with these traits are endemic to the forests of Assam and Kerala.^[2]

After harvesting a suitable specimen, the bamboo is seasoned to allow naturally present resins to strengthen it. Once ready, a cork stopper is inserted to block one end, next to which the blowing hole is burnt in. The holes must be burnt in with red hot skewers since drilling causes the fibrous bamboo to split along the length, rendering it useless. The approximate positions of the finger holes are calculated by measuring the bamboo shaft's inner and outer diameters and applying certain formulae. Flute makers have only one chance to burn the holes, and a single mistake ruins the flute, so they usually begin by burning in a small hole, after which they play the note and using a chromatic tuner and a drone called tanpura, gradually make adjustments by sanding the holes in small increments. Once all the holes are perfected, the bansuri is steeped in a solution of antiseptic oils, after which it is cleaned, dried and its ends are bound with silk or nylon threads for both decoration as well as protection against thermal expansion.

Playing[link]

	Sound samples Bass Bansuri played with key of E(white three) sound samples Small Bansuri played with key of E(white three) sound samples Carnatic 8-hole flute pitch E
Problems listening to these files? See media help.

Bansuris range in length from less than 12 inches (called muralis) up to about 40 inches (shankha bansuris). 20-inch bansuris are common. Another common and similar Indian flute played in South India is the venu, which is shorter in length and has 8 finger holes (this type of Indian flute is played by the famous Carnatic Musician Shashank Subramanyam). The index, middle, and ring fingers of both hands are usually used to finger the six hole bansuri. For the seven hole bansuri, the little finger (pinky) of the lower hand is usually employed.^[3]

fingering chart for a Bansuri

The sound of a bansuri is generated from resonance of the air column inside it. The length of this column is varied by closing or leaving open, a varying number of holes. Half-holing is employed to play flat or minor notes. The 'sa' (on the Indian sargam scale, or equivalent 'do' on the octave) note is obtained by covering the first three holes from the blowing-hole. Octaves are varied by manipulating one's embouchure and controlling the blowing strength. Various grip styles are used by flutists to suit different lengths of Bansuris, the two prominent styles being the Pannalal Ghosh grip, which uses the fingertips to close the holes, and the Hariprasad Chaurasia grip, which uses the pads (flat undersides) of the fingers to close the holes.^[4] While playing, the sitting posture is also important in that one should be careful not to strain one's back over long hours of practice. The size of a Bansuri affects its pitch. Longer bansuris with a larger bore have a lower pitch and the slimmer and shorter ones sound higher.

In order to play the diatonic scale on a bansuri, one needs to find where the notes lie. For example, in a bansuri where Sa or the tonic is always played by closing the first three holes, is equivalent to C, one can play sheet music by creating a finger notation that corresponds to different notes. A flutist is able to perform complex facets of Raga music such as microtonal inflections, ornamentation, and glissando by varying the breath, performing fast and dextrous fingering, and closing/opening the holes with slow, sweeping gestures. These techniques are demonstrated by the famous Indian flautist Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Care and Maintenance[link]

Since the bansuri is a natural woodwind instrument, it is prone to cracks and thermal stresses while playing.

• Avoid playing in very cold conditions. This causes the bamboo to expand unevenly and develop cracks, because of the warm air blown into it.

• Frequently oiling the bansuri is recommended as this conditions the bamboo and makes it to last longer. Usually, slight amount of mustard oil is used on the inside of the bansuri. Some bansuri players and makers prefer linseed oil or walnut oil to mustard oil, owing to its strong odour. Oiling must never be done on the threads or near the blowing hole on the inside. A small cotton swab (attached to any convenient piece of stick) soaked in the oil should be applied on the inside, about two inches away from the blowing hole. It must be made sure that the bansuri is cold (i.e., not recently played, because recently played bansuris have moisture on the bore surface) before oiling. After oiling is done, it is allowed to soak completely.

• The frequency of oiling depends on the climatic conditions in which the bansuri is played. Dry hot climates require oiling as frequent as four to six times an year.

• If, in case, cracks develop on the bansuri, they will most likely destroy the tuning of the bansuri. To prevent further damage due to cracks, apply instant glue (with lower viscosity, so that it can seep into the crack and bond it) on the crack and then bind the area with threads (nylon threads used in crochet can be used).

Veteran bansurists[link]

Famous masters of the bansuri include Pt. Pannalal Ghosh, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao, G. S. Sachdev, Pt. Devendra Murdeshwar, Pt. Raghunath Seth,Pt.Rupak Kulkarni, Pt. Ronu Majumdar and Pt. Nityanand Haldipur

See also[link]

• Hindustani classical music
• Venu
• Flute
• Bamboo musical instruments

External links[link]

• Carnatic Flute Fingering Chart
• Video & audio recordings of bansuri

Notes[link]

Hariprasad Chaurasia
Hariprasad Chaurasia at Bhubaneswar, Orissa
Background information
Born	(1938-07-01) 1 July 1938 (age 73)
Origin	Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Genres	Hindustani classical music
Occupations	Composer, flute player
Instruments	bansuri
Website	hariprasadchaurasia.com

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian classical instrumentalist.^[1] He is a player of the bansuri, the Indian bamboo flute.

Early life[link]

Hariprasad Chaurasia was born in Allahabad in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.^[2] His father was a wrestler. His mother died when he was 6. He had to learn music without his father's knowledge, for his father wanted him to become a wrestler. He did go to the Akhada and train with his father for some time, although he also started learning music, and practising at his friend's house. He often credits his wrestling training for giving him the immense stamina and lung power that are the hallmarks of his flute playing, stating that,

Career[link]

Hariprasad Chaurasia started learning vocal music from his neighbor, Pandit Rajaram at the age of 15. Later, he switched to playing the flute under the tutelage of Pandit Bholanath Prasanna of Varanasi for eight years. He joined the All India Radio, Cuttack, Orissa in 1957 and worked as a composer and performer^[3][4][5] Much later, while working for All India Radio he received guidance from the reclusive Annapurna Devi, daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan.

He is considered a rare combination of innovator and traditionalist. He has expanded the expressive possibilities of the bansuri through his masterful blowing technique.

Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a music director for Indian films along with Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, forming a group called Shiv-Hari. He has also collaborated with various world musicians in experimental cross-cultural performances, including the fusion group Shakti.

He serves as the Artistic Director of the World Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory in the Netherlands.

He has collaborated with several western musicians, including John McLaughlin and Jan Garbarek, and has also composed music for a number of Indian films. He has performed throughout the world, winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean-Pierre Rampal.

Personal life[link]

Chaurasia is married to Anuradha, a classical vocalist from Orissa.^[6] They have a son Rajiv.^[7] From his first wife Kamla Chaurasia he has two sons Ajay and Vinay Chaurasia.

Awards[link]

• Sangeet Natak Academy - 1984
• Konark Samman - 1992^[4]
• Padma Bhushan - 1992
• Yash Bharati Sanman - 1994
• Padma Vibhushan - 2000
• Hafiz Ali Khan Award - 2000
• Dinanath Mangeshkar Award - 2000
• Pune Pandit Award - 2008, by The Art & Music Foundation, Pune, India
• National Eminence award, NADA VIDYA BHARTI by Visakha Music and Dance Academy, Vizag - 2009

Honours[link]

• Honoured by Dutch Royal family at Amsterdam,and was conferred with the title Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau (“officier in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau”) and was honoured by Princess Maxima herself.^[8]
• Ministry of Culture of the Republic of France.^[9] He has been appointed as Knight in the Order of Arts and Letter (“Ordres des Arts et Lettres”) in appreciation of the significant contribution he has made to spread culture in France and the rest of the World - 2009
• Honorary Doctorate by the North Orissa University for his unparalleled role and contribution to the world of Indian Classical Music - 2009

Books[link]

• Official biography "Woodwinds of Change" by Surjit Singh - 2008
• 'Hariprasad Chaurasia and the Art of Improvisation', by Henri Tournier^[10]

Discography[link]

These are major albums released by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, categorized by release dates.²

Chaurasia in 2011

Chaurasia in 2007

With Ustad Zakir Hussain (2012)

1967

• Call of the Valley with Shivkumar Sharma and Brij Bhushan Kabra

1978

• Krishnadhwani 60

1981

• Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute

1984

• Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute (different set of ragas,same album name)

1987

• Morning to Midnight Ragas - Morning Ragas

1988

• Call of the Valley

1989

• Venu
• Live in Ahmedabad '89

1990

• Immortal Series

1991

• Megh Malhar

1992

• Night Ragas
• Live in Amsterdam '92
• Morning to Midnight Ragas - Afternoon Ragas
• All time Favorites
• Live from Sawai Gandharva Music Festival - Video (VHS)
• Raga-s DU Nord Et Du Sud
• Immortal Series - Flute Fantasia

1993

• Indian Classical Masters
• Daylight Ragas
• Flute - Hariprasad Chaurasia

1994

• Thumri - The Music of Love
• In A Mellow Mood
• Possession
• Immortal Series - Devine Drupad
• Classic Greats1 - Ideas on Flute

1995

• In Live Concert
• Cascades of Hindustani Music
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Sunrise Melody
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Morning Melody
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Midday Melody
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Afternoon Melody
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Evening Melody
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Sunset Melody
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Midnight Melody
• Maharishi Gandharva Veda - Late Night Melody
• Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute
• Malhar-Chandrika
• Music 157 - Live in London
• Music - Flute
• Great Jugalbandis
• Music from the world of OSHO - Above & Beyond
• Prem Yog
• Written on the Wind
• Romantic Themes
• Saptarishi - Live at Siri Fort
• The Mystical Flute of Hari Prasad Chaurasia
• Maestro's Choice
• Basant Bahar
• Chaurasia's Choice

1996

• Hari Prasad Chaurasia & his Divine Flute
• Flute Recital
• Valley Recalls - In search of Peace, Love and Harmony
• Krishna's Flute - Master of the Bansuri
• Classical Encounters - A live Experience with Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia
• Fabulous Flute
• Pundit Hari Prasad Chaurasia
• In Concert - Vancouver, B.C
• Hariprasad Chaurasia - Flute
• The Bamboo Flautist of His Generation
• Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - Nada in Jerusalem

1997

• Classical Encounters - A Live Experience with Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia
• Great Jugalbandis
• The Golden Collection (Classical)
• Immortal Essence
• Golden Raga Collection
• Bustan Abraham - Fanar (Guest appearance alongside Zakir Hussain)

1998

• Samarpan-VCD Special 60th Birthday Edition
• The Charms Companion
• Morning to Midnight - Morning to Dusk
• Music for Reiki

1999

• Jugalbandi
• Rasdhaara
• Live Inside Khajuraho
• Live in New Delhi - '89
• Golden Raga Collection
• Musical Titans of India - Jugalbandhi Video (VHS)
• Pure Joy - Positive Energy Music

2000

• Music without Boundaries
• Maaya - Far East
• Hriday - Cuba
• Caravan Spain
• Live Concert at Savai Gandharva Music Festival
• Gurukul - The Guru shishya Parampara

2001

• Adi-Ananth
• Love Divine - Parables of Passion
• Power & Grace - Live at the Saptak Festival 2001
• Discovery of Indian Classical Music
• Flute Duet

2003

• Flute Deity Hariprasad Chaurasia
• The Greatest Hits of Hariprasad Chaurasia
• Salvation - Instrumental Bhajans

Albums (release year unknown)[link]

• La Flute De Pundit Hariprasad Chaurasia
• Hariprasad Chaurasia - The Most Celebrated Flautist of India
• Sound of Silence
• Charm of the Bamboo flute
• Kalpana - Imagination
• A Kaleidoscope of various ragas
• Krishna Utsav
• Kali - Classical Instrumental
• Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - the Living Legend of Flute
• Moon Light Moods - Flute Recital
• Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia - The Living Legend of Flute
• Indian Music
• HariDhwani
• Fusion India - Passage of India Series
• Being Still
• Dhammapada - Sacred teaching of Buddha
• The Charms Companion
• Eternity
• Nothing but wind (1988) - Composed by Ilaiyaraaja

With Zakir Hussain

• Making Music (ECM, 1986)

Music for Bollywood films[link]

Along with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma he composed music for

• Chandni
• Darr
• Lamhe
• Silsila
• Faasle
• Vijay
• Sahibaan

Music for Telugu films[link]

The music for the movie Sirivennela is composed by K. V. Mahadevan which revolves around the role of Pandit Hari Prasad, a blind flautist played by Sarvadaman Banerjee and flute renditions by Hariprasad Chaurasia.^[11]

Music for English films[link]

Some of his music is used in Mithaq Kazimi's 16 Days in Afghanistan.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hariprasad Chaurasia

• Official website
• Interview with Choodie Shivaram
• Hariprasad Chaurasia by Mohan Nadkarni
• Interview with The Scholars' Avenue, IIT Kharagpur