Bansuri North Indian Transverse Bamboo Flute (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

Bansuri

...continued

Tuning

Within the bansuri itself the scale may be tuned; but its overall pitch cannot be tuned, since by shaving a

bit off its overall length the holes would be out of place. For two flutes to be in tune with each other one would

have to get flutes that are close enough in pitch to allow for lipping to take care of the rest. Any hole can be

made bigger or smaller to adjust the pitch of that particular note within the scale.

The tuning of a bansuri may differ slightly from that of western notation, certainly the bansuri is not

constructed with equal temperament in mind. In most cases, tuning discrepancies can be overcome by

embouchure placement and force of breath, but here again the individual bansuri may or may not be conducive

to a given intercultural situation.

A pipe note c

bansuri is well intoned up to e

, but above this it is very difficult to control and intonation

depends upon the instrument. A well tuned instrument is essential.

Dynamics

Lower Octave

In lower octave the sound quality is breathy, and there is not as much volume as in the western (silver)

flute, but it is possible to project well once the flute is warm.

Higher Register

Volume can be quiet up to around d

; e

may not render a true

but rather a

and g

are very difficult to produce quietly, let alone produce in tune.

Speed of Execution

In diatonic progressions the bansuri is very quick, as agile as the western flute. If utilizing half holings

the pace is just as fast, especially once the performer has grasped the mode or scale requested. However, jumps

and intervals will slow down the pace.

Techniques

I. Tongueing

All kinds of tongueing are performable, single, double, triple and flutter. Fluttertongueing usually takes

you straight to the second octave of the scale - it is very difficlult to fluttertongue in the lower octave. The

fluttertongue also brings out the 5th of the note being played.

II. Vibrati and Glissandi

Vibrati are no problem, at various speeds. A slow delicate vibrato is possible either with a head shake or

with the diaphragm. Finger rocking over a hole renders a vibrato which is very controllable.

Portamento (glissed) grace notes are no problem as well as glissandi between notes and even over larger

intervals. The exception is movement across the pipe note, which is impossible to execute as a glissando, since

the fingering changes abruptly when crossing the pipe note in a stepwise manner.

Bansuri North Indian Transverse Bamboo Flute Page 3