Radio Vid: Veena Special

Delve deep into the sounds of the Saraswati and Rudra Veena.

About this months show, Vid said: "This month on Balamii, I’m doing an instrument special on two particular types of string instruments, known as ‘veenas’. Specifically, I’ll be looking at the ‘Saraswati’ veena and the 'Rudra' veena.

The Rudra veena is mainly used in Hindustani music (i.e. Indian Classical music from the north of India) and is a very bass-heavy type of veena. It would traditionally be played by men but recently, ‘vanaikas’ (veena players) such as Madhuvanti Pal and Jyoti Hegde (pictured!) have broken patriarchial boundaries to become masters at the rudra veena.

The Saraswati veena is mainly used in Carnatic music (i.e. Indian Classical music from the south of India). It’s called the ‘Saraswati’ veena after the deity Saraswati, who is depicted playing it in Hindu iconongraphy."