Instruments Used in Kathak

This dance form origin from the groups of poets of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or story tellers. These poets, performing in village squares and temple courtyards, mostly specialized in recounting mythological and moral tales from the scriptures. They use to perform those stories with hand gestures and facial expressions. It was a high class theatre, using instrumental and vocal music along with stylized gestures, to telling the stories. In the time of Mughal culture, Kathak became a sophisticated chamber art and taking care by art loving rulers, the practitioners of Kathak worked at refining its dramatic and rhythmic footworks, delighting elite audiences with their mastery over rhythm and the stylized mime.
The technique of Kathak is easy to understand by fast rhythmic footwork set to complex time cycles. The footwork is matched by the accompanying percussion instruments such as tabla and pakhawaj, and the dancer and percussionists.

Tabla

The name “TABLA” seems to have been derived from the Arabian Drum called “TABLA” It is believed that the Sufi Saint Ameer Khusrau had evolved this instrument by dividing the PPAKHAWAJ, an ancient percussion instrument into two pieces. The two parts of the tabla are called Dayan and Bayan. Tabla is played with finger tips and with open palms and it can reproduce all the intricate rhythmic patterns of the voice and instrument. Tabla and pakhwaj are the instruments of the Heart chakra, the Anahata.

Pakhwaj

Pakhwaj is an antique instrument also known as Mridang.  This instrument was very popular in the middle ages when it used to accompany Dhrupad singers.  It’s contemporary name is thought to have been derived from a Awaj, which was a type of drum used during the Moghul period..Pakhwaj is also made of a hollow log that has a cylinder shape and which slightly stretches in the hand.  The portions on the two sides are covered with leather.  The dimensions of the circles are different.  The empty portion on the right side is slightly smaller.  The leather is tied using leather belts stretched lengthwise along the Pakhwaj.  Cylinder shaped wooden blocks are inserted within the wall of the Pakhwaj and between the belts in order to adjust the sound. 

Harmonium

Despite the fact that the harmonium is mainly an instrument of western music, it has been accepted by Indian music just like other instruments.  Harmoniums are mostly used to accompany light and non-light classical music.  However some musicians prefer to use this instrument in Khayal singing as well.  Musicians have always debated whether this instrument should be used to accompany music because of its constant tone.  Harmonium players in India have become experts of this instrument and have created techniques that help the harmonium conform with Indian music.


Sarangi
The Sarangi is the most suitable instrument to accompany a vocalist because this instrument is most similar to the human voice.  It can create every technique of sound. The Sarangi is made out of a single wooden log as big as 70 cm.  The inner portion of this log is hollow and is covered with leather.  The hollow portion contains four tuning screws.  Strings made out of animal intestines are used in place of steel strings.