Page:The Music of India.djvu/143

 the stem and steps the holes as he desires. The Miy, another variety, is bored cylindrically and is a regular pastoral instrument.

Mr. Fox Strangways gives a number of flute scales which he found in different parts of India. Many of the intervals were most curious and there was only one which approached the western scale in its intervals. Some of the intervals are quarter tones and some quite strange to our regular tones. One scale ran as follows : —

b b tf C dJJ F G A B C

The flute is still used to a slight extent both by shepherds and by professional musicians, but it has very largely given way to the reed instruments.

The Algosa is a kind of flageolet and has the seven notes of the gamut.

The Ka-sharati is a flute used in the Khasi Hills, and the Basuli one used in Nepal for weddings and dances.

The Nagasara or Nagasuram is the common reed instrument of India. It is found from north to south, and no wedding procession is complete without it. This instrument is from two to two and a half feet long, and is conical in shape, enlarging downwards. It may be made either of wood or of metal. In the north wood is commonly used, and in the south the best instruments are made of silver. It is pierced with twelve boles, seven of which are used in fingering, the remainder regulating the pitch. Expert players can produce any intervals by only partially covering the available holes. The better instruments, particularly those of silver, have a very fine tone and, beard in the open air, are very attractive. The nagasara performers are often exceedingly expert and are able to produce all the various graces for which Indian music is famous. The melody is clear, interweaved with countless variations. A good nagasara player is in great request and makes a very good living.

The Niiikairna is a kind of small nagasara. It is similar in shape and has the same number of holes. It is a very shrill instrument.