Santoor is essentially a folk instrument widely used as an accompaniment to singing in the Kashmir Valley. Originally this was known as "Shata Tantri Veena" (100 stringed Lute). The Persians named it Santoor and the name became popular and has endured. Instruments of this family are known as Yang Chin in China, Zymbalon in Hungary and Rumania and Santoori in Greece. Countries bordering Kashmir show relics of this instrument and there are prototypes found in Russia also. Santoor is considered to be the predecessor of the piano, which is the same instrument, mechanized.
Despite its one hundred strings mounted on 25 frets, the Santoor inherently has only a limited range for the articulation of classical melodies. But Shivkumar Sharma, after relentless experimentation, has modified the instrument by adding four more frets and 16 more strings to make minor adjustments in the arrangement of the strings on the various frets. Because of this renovation the Santoor has gained a wider range of expressiveness and has now made the grade as a solo instrument on the concert platforms.
01. Chandrakauns - 00:00
02. Mishra Kafi - 21:16
Artist :: Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma
Traditional Music
Label :: SAREGAMA