June 2009

Bamboo Tanpuras from Our Own Production
In recent years bamboo tanpuras have been established in our assortment as a cheaper, sturdier and more compact alternative to traditional male gourd tanpuras. However, their sound never matched the originals, because our German supplier was lacking crucial knowledge. Therefore we decided to get our own bamboo tanpuras built in Berlin according to our specifications. We have changed the construction of the bridge and the attachment of the strings in such a way, that even the stiff bass strings are now fitting perfectly to the surface of the bridge. This is an essential precondition of getting a good jovari and thus a good sound.

The sound quality of our prototypes has totally confirmed our ideas. Never before has a bamboo tanpura sounded so much like a traditional one! Further advantages of our new bamboo tanpura model are the better string attachment (no loops required any more!) and improved movability of the fine tuning beads (mankas). Moreover we can offer individual designs now – let us know your specific ideas regarding size and colour, and your personal custom-made bamboo tanpura will be crafted for you within a few weeks!

With a price of just 390.- Euro (plus 14.90 Euro shipping cost within Germany / 34.90 Euro within Europe) our new bamboo tanpuras are still considerably cheaper than even the simplest male tanpuras from India. Further details and pictures are available here

May 2009

New Electronic Tanpura Swarangini
The electronic tanpura Swarangini is the improved successor of the successful e-tanpura Raagini. Its new plastic shell and state of the art digitalisation bring its weight down below 600 grams – less than half of the Raagini's weight. Carrying the Swarangini anywhere becomes easy and comfortable that way. Volume is adjusted with the feather touch keyboard instead of the Raagini's turning knob. All other common features – choice of tonic, fine tuning, choice of intervalls and speed – are managed with the keyboard as well. Out of all currently available e-tanpuras, the Swarangini probably comes closest to the sound of a traditional acoustic tanpura.

Beyond the functions of the Raagini, the Swarangini offers three new features:
– choice between 5 beat rhythm (with extended low octave) and 6 beat rhythm (with extended low octave and fifth)
– individual volume adjustment of each single tone
– automatic saving of latest adjustments
This unique variety of possibilities enables you to get a drone according to your very specific needs.

Complete digitalisation has its disadvantages, though - it means amongst other things that volume can not be adjusted continuously any more. The Swarangini's given steps of volume might seem a bit too crude for some users, especially in the lower areas which are used most often for practice at home. The feel and look of the plastic shell might not be to everybody's liking either. Therefore we will keep on offering the predecessor Raagini as an alternative to the Swarangini for all those who prefer sturdy metal shells and turning knobs for volume control. Both e-tanpuras are available for 289,- Euros (plus 6.90 Euros shipping cost within Germany / 14.90 Euros within Europe).
Detailed info and sound samples of Swarangini at
http://www.india-instruments.de/pages/electrinst/tanpura/swarangini_e.html
Detailed info and sound samples of Raagini
http://www.india-instruments.de/pages/electrinst/tanpura/raagdigital_e.html

April 2009

Flute repair service
Traditional Indian bansuri-flutes consist basically of a simple length of bamboo with a number of holes in them, and are from this point of view not that delicate. Nevertheless, the bamboo can develop cracks, due to radical climate changes, rendering the instrument useless. Now India Instruments offers an effective repair solution to this problem as well. The cracks are carefully sealed and the flute is expertly bound. The hide glue seals the crack(s), and the new binding assures stability and prevents new cracks from appearing. The results are fully restored sound, stability and appearance – the flute is like new again! With simple standard-bansuris, the cost of such a repair, as a rule, aren't worth it, but with premium concert bansuris, the cost of repairing rather than repurchasing are a far more economical and simple solution. The cost for a simple crack repair with sealing and rebinding is Euro 20 plus shipping. More demanding repair jobs will be reckoned at Euro 30 / hour.

Our repair service now extends to practically all Indian instruments. Ripped heads or torn straps on tablas, broken gourd resonators on sitars and tanpuras, broken strings or tuning pegs on stringed instruments, wheezing or out-of-tune reeds on harmoniums and shruti boxes, malfunctioning electric tabla, tanpura, and lahara boxes – we offer solutions for all these problems as well as many other repairs, expertly handled and fairly priced. We can also provide damage assessments and repair estimates for insurance purposes. Just ask us; we're glad to help!

An overview of our complete repair services is available at
www.india-instruments.de/pages/reparaturen.html

February 2009

Konnakol-DVD-Professional Set
Konnakol is the rhythmic syllable-language of South-Indian music.It probably is the most complex and comprehensive system for presenting rhythm.It is also a very good tool for teaching, analysing rhythmic structures and last not least a very popular and impressive element in performing music.India Instruments has been offering the DVD "Gateway To Rhythm" (http://www.india-instruments.de/pages/media/video/lehr-dvd.html) by John McLaughlin and Selva Ganesh Vinayakram as a compact introduction.Now we are glad to present the professional Set "Konnakol", made up of 54 lessons on 3 DVDs (228 minutes long) as well as a bonus-CD with all lessons as PDF files for printing.
The ultimate goal of these unique DVDs is to be able to perform a Konnakol-solo of 10 minutes, that is fit for the stage. On the way there you are led step by step through all important elements of the South-Indian rhythm-system: lessons for fast speech (Ferns), basic rhythms (Jatis) ,uneven hrythmic phrases and periods, the creation of tension by shifting accents in relation to the basic pulse (Muktayam), patterns that shorten systematically over numerous cycles, interlude of 3/4 feeling (Trishyam) and breaks of various lenghts and forms (Ardi).
Konnakol works with the voice and therefore is not restricted to any instrumental skills or certain places - but it can be transferred to any instrument. The material is presented in German language clearly and precisely by Christian Schmidhofer, diploma holder and member of the legendary Karnateka College of Percussion led by the master of mridangam T.A.S. Mani, with whom he organizes workshops regularly. You don΄t need any knowledge in advance. The DVD-Set "Konnakol" is available from India Instruments for 139.- € (plus 1.95 € mailing costs if ordered).

Tabla-Flightcase 3 in 1
Drum-skins are highly damageable wear-and-tear-parts, that will tear sooner or later. But it is especially annoying when it happens on tour just before a concert. Some tabla-players therefore carry a second instrument with them as a replacement. Sometimes tablas are needed, that are tuned differently for different pieces of music. India Instruments offers the flightcase 3 in 1 made of fiberglass to meet these requirements. This case in its proven cylindrical shape is so high, that 1 baya and 2 dayans fit into it. Robust rolls are included as part of the equipment, of course. External dimensions (height / diameter) 89 / 38 cm, weight 6.8 kg.
Pictures of the new flightcase-model can be seen here .
The price is 250.- € (plus 6.90 € forwarding charges if ordered).

Tuning-aid Narka
Tuning the sympathetic strings of a sitar, sarod, sarangi, esraj or dilruba often is very cumbersome and difficult, because the pegs can't be turned easily and it is hard to get a good grip on them. Some players then give up on tuning the sympathetic strings properly, hereby loosing the full sound of the instrument. A solution for this problem is a tuning-aid called "Narka". The Narka is put upon the peg tightly like a wrench, can be gripped by the whole hand, and thus allows you to move the peg smoothly, so that you can tune the sympathetic strings exactly. The result is an instrument, that can develop its full sound. Starting from now you can get Narkas from India Instruments for 8.90 € (plus 1.95 € mailing cost , if ordered) You can look at pictures of it at: http://www.india-instruments.de/pages/misc/sitar/sitarzub.html

Oktober 2007

Compact Sitar from Hiren Roy
Hiren Roy Compact Sitar: 1990,- EURO incl. Fibreglass case

Percussion-Teachuing-DVD Darabuka
Language: english and french.
"The Darabuka with Ali Alaoui - The Arab World of Percussion", Doppel-DVD-Set with Booklet - 45,- EURO

September 2007

Morsing
From South India:
* Morsing Steel, Frame ca. 8 cm, Tuning c or d, Price: 17,00 EUR

From Rajasthan:
* Morchang Neusilber, Frame ca. 7 cm, Tuning c#, Price 19,00 EUR
* Morchang Steel, Frame ca. 8 cm, Tuning h, Price 18,00 EUR

From Vietnam:
* Dan Moi, Length approx. 10 cm, Tuned c#, d, d#, e, f, or f#, with Bamboo Box, Price: 9,90 EUR
* Mini Dan Moi, Length approx. 7,5 cm, Tuned g#, a, a#, h, c or c#, with Wood Box, Price: 9,90

August 2007

New CD Releases from Navras
* NRCD 0210 Bhimsen Joshi (Khyal-Vocal): Swaradhiraj, Vol. 5 - Ragas Jogkauns & Bageshri Kanada, 15,00 EUR
* NRCD 0211 Nasir Zahiruddin Dagar & Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar (Dhrupad-Vocal): Dagar Bani - Ragas Lalit & Sohini,15,00 EUR
* NRCD 0212 Gaurav Mazumdar (Sitar) & Jayanthi Kumaresh (Saraswati-Vina): Walking Together - Ragas Kalavati, Yaman (Kalyani) & Bhajan,15,00 EUR

Teaching CD Yoga und Gesang

Language: German, CD Play time 78 Minuten, 23-p Booklet - 19,90 EUR

Child Sitar

Child Sitgar, incl. gig bag: 259,00 EUR

Khol Fibreglass
Khol, fibreglass, incl. gig bag: 159,00 EUR

July 2007

New Teaching Material for Indian Raga Music
Gyan - Educational Series of Indian Ragas, 2-CD-Set with Booklet, Order Number DG-CD-001/002 - Price 24,50 EUR   more Infos

June 2007

New CD Release von Navras
* NRCD 9008: Salamat Ali Khan (Khyal-Vocal): Nida E Salamat - Ragas Miyan Ki Todi, Nilkauns, Saraswati
* NRCD 5510: Hamsar Hayat (Vocal) & Friends: Apni Masti -Qawwalis from Delhi
* NRCD 0209: Nishat Khan (Sitar), Shabaz Hussain Khan (Tabla): Heart Of Fire - Ragas Desh, Pilu, Mand
* NRCD 0205: Imrat Khan (Surbahar, Sitar): Legendary Legacy - Raga Yaman-Kalyan, Tabla: Swapan Chaudhuri
* NRCD 3023: Shujaat Khan (Sitar) & Purvi Parikh (Vocal): Piya Pardesi - Rajasthani Folk Songs & Thumris
* NRCD 9006: Hariprasad Chaurasia (Bansuri): Sans - Breath - Raga Yaman, Tabla: Sabir Khan

Price 15,- EUR.   more Infos

CDs from Manikam Yogeshwaram


* Tamil Classics - The Voice of Manickam Yogeswaran
* Peace for Paradise
* Thirukkural in 133 Raagams by Saint Thiruvullar

Price 15,-
  

April 2007

DVD for Kanjira

Price: 35,50 €   more Infos

Dilruba & Esraj with Tuning Mechanik
more Infos - Dilruba
more Infos - Esraj

March 2007

Double Skin Drum: Kachhi Dhol

Price: 129,00 €   more Infos

Sajal Karmakar's The Magic of Rhythm know on DVD available!

Sajal Karmakar: The Magic of Rhythm - Tabla-Kurs I with 2 DVDs (Playtime 137 Min.) and Booklet (90 p.)
Price: 89,50 €   more Infos

February 2007

Folk-Tanpura Bhajani Vina
.
Price: 160,00 €   more infos

Al Gromer Khan: Der Lehrer, sein Schόler und der weiίe Mogul
Hörbuch 5 CDs, 395 Minuten Laufzeit,
Preis: 24,95 €   more infos

TINTAL (TEENTAL) LAHARA CD SETS
This 2-CD set of Tintal laharas (nagma) can make any ordinary "boom-box" function like a lahara box.
Price: 19,95 €   more infos

Januar 2007

New CDs
Three new CDs from Dipavali Label with Kushal Das (Sitar, Surbahar), Ronu Majumdar (Bansuri), Tejendra Narayan Majumdar (Sarod
Each CD: 18,50 €, Set: 49,50 €    more infos

November 2006

Sur Tanpura: Swarmandal & Tanpura

Price: 390,00 €   more infos

New CDs from Navras

• Shujaat Khan (Sitar): Yaadein - Memories; Raga Shyam Kalyan: Alap, Jor, Gats in Teentaal; Tabla: Arunangshu Chaudhury & Shankar Debnath; Live in London 2005 - NRCD 0203, 15,00 €
• Imrat Khan (Sitar) & Swapan Chaudhury (Tabla): Legendary Legacy - Raga Yaman Kalyan; Live in London 2002 - NRCD 0205, 15,00 €
• Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod): My Inspirations. Ragas Chhaya Nat und Nat Bihag (Faiyaz Khan), Ragas Mishra Tilak Kamod und Maand (Kesarbai Kerkar), Raga Marwa (Amir Khan), Ragas Dev Gandhar, Mishra Jhinjhoti, Mishra Jangla und Jogiya (Abdul Karim Khan) und Raga Malkauns (Bade Ghulam Ali Khan) - NRCD 0206, 26,50 € (2 CDs)
• Rashid Khan (Vocal): Yearning - Ragas Marwa & Bhupali; Tabla: Anand Gopal Bandopadhyay; Harmonium: Jyoti Goho; Live in London 1995 - NRCD 0204, 15,00 €
• Surmohee - Enchanting & Rare compositions of Dr. Sushila Pohankar, performed by Pandit Ajay Pohankar, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Sanjeev Abhyankar and Swati Natekar: Ragas Bairagi Bhairav, Mishra Tilak Kamod, Megh, Yaman, Malkauns, Bhinna Shadja, Sindh Bhairavi - NRCD 0208, 15,00 €
  
  more infos

Oktober 2006

Saarang Sparshini - Elektro-Tanpura with additional manual plucking mode
Can be either used in manual or automatic plucking mode.
Price: 279,00 €   more infos

Kanjiras with goat skin

Price: 29,00 €   more infos

September 2006

Microphone for Sitar and Tanpura

Price: 89,90 €   more infos

Peter Panke: Sänger mόssen zweimal sterben
Hardcover, 320 Seiten, 22 Black & White Fotos, 6 Illustrations from Andreas Wald,
Price: 17,90 €   more infos