Which category of musical instruments does the Pakhawaj primarily belong to?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Membranophone.
Explanation:
☛ The Pakhawaj is a traditional barrel-shaped, two-headed percussion instrument that belongs to the Membranophone category (known as Avanaddha Vadya in Indian classical music).
☛ In membranophones, sound is generated through the vibration of a stretched membrane or skin when struck.
☛ It is made of wood, and both heads (faces) are covered with treated animal skin, tuned using wooden blocks placed between the leather straps.
☛ The Pakhawaj is the primary rhythmic accompaniment for the traditional Dhrupad genre of Hindustani classical music and is also widely used in Odissi dance.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra classifies musical instruments into four distinct groups: Avanaddha Vadya (Membranophones), Tata Vadya (Chordophones), Sushira Vadya (Aerophones), and Ghana Vadya (Idiophones).
☛ Chordophones (Tata Vadya): Instruments where sound is produced by vibrating strings, such as the Sitar, Sarod, Veena, and Tanpura.
☛ Aerophones (Sushira Vadya): Wind instruments where sound is produced by vibrating columns of air, such as the Bansuri (Flute), Shehnai, and Nadaswaram.
☛ Idiophones (Ghana Vadya): Solid instruments that produce sound through the vibration of the material itself without strings or membranes, such as Manjira, Jal Tarang, and Ghatam.
☛ Prominent Pakhawaj Exponents: Renowned masters include Pt. Ramashish Pathak, Gopal Das, Bhavani Shankar, and Totaram Sharma.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which ancient Indian text first classified musical instruments into four categories? → Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni
☛ What term is used in Indian music for wind instruments (Aerophones)? → Sushira Vadya
☛ To which musical instrument category does the Mridangam belong? → Membranophone (Avanaddha Vadya)
☛ Which percussion instrument is considered the precursor to the modern Tabla? → Pakhawaj
☛ In which classical dance form is the Pakhawaj traditionally used as the main rhythmic accompaniment? → Odissi