Weekly Photo Challenge: ADMIRATION

“Our admiration of the antique is not admiration of the old, but of the natural.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Weekly Photo Challenge: ADMIRATION – Tamboura musical instrument

Weekly Photo Challenge: ADMIRATION – Tamboura musical instrument

Indian classical music – Kaushiki Chakraborty explains the Tanpura

Are you familiar with the Tamboura/Tanpura/Tambura? It is an ancient, four-stringed, musical instrument from India known by several names but, mainly as Tanpura, and with roots in many other parts of the world.  It is more of an accompanying sound because the extended four notes drone on over and over again creating a hypnotic/harmonic resonance and calming effect.

Years back, when I lived in a yoga retreat center/ashram, I loved the morning meditations and chants that helped us start our day feeling centered and clear-headed. The Tamboura/Tanpura was one of the instruments that accompanied the morning chants and its haunting drone sound could put you in a meditative state very quickly. One of my favorite musical chants was also called Tamboura and so when the opportunity arose to take a class in learning how to play the instrument, I jumped right in.

Shortly after completing the class, I bought my own instrument and played it whenever the urge called. Sadly, a few years ago, a friend was visiting my home and bumped into my instrument, knocking it over; the incident left a hairline crack in the neck. It has never played the same again. Nowadays, it sits in the dining area as a decorative piece. I still admire my Tamboura/Tanpura because of its healing sounds and beautiful music.

[1 Hour] Healing Tambura – Sacral Chakra Meditation Music | Taanpura & Harp Sounds

More Below!

“Admiration for a quality or an art can be so strong that it deters us from striving to possess it.” Friedrich Nietzsche

Weekly Photo Challenge: ADMIRATION – Tamboura musical instrument

Weekly Photo Challenge: ADMIRATION – Tamboura musical instrument

Tamboura (Tanpura, tampura) #34

The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege. Charles Kuralt

Part of the rich history of this hypnotic instrument shows a reference that goes back to Sangit Parijat in 1620. The construction is of wood with four strings wound tightly at the top. Some are made of dark wood and others are made of redwood. What I always loved about them were the beautiful inlaid patterns that distinguish one instrument from the other. Mine, above,  has inlaid bone and some blue tinged, colored pieces adhered to the instrument but some can get quite intricate in the decorations.

The sizes vary too. They go from large (male) to medium (female) and to small ones that can be easily carried. While they resemble a large sitar, the sound and instrument constructions are quite different. I hope you’d take a moment to listen to the sound from any of the videos or links. You’d enjoy it. Happy Weekend all!

This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post:  ADMIRATION  This week, In your response, depict something or someone you admire. Bonus points if you share a paragraph or two on the source of your admiration.

Positive Motivation Tip:  In addition to love life and family, we admire a lot of things… enjoy them!

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos copyrighted and from my Personal Collection

Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet