Dotara

For the two-stringed Persian and Central Asian instrument, seeDutar.For Indian drone-lute, seeEktara.

A folk musician playingDotarainDhaka,Bangladesh

Thedotara(ordotar) (Bengali:দোতারা,Rangpuri:দোতোৰাdotora,Assamese:দোতোৰাdûtûra,literally, “Of [or ‘having’] two strings” ) is a two-stringed,pluckedmusical instrumentfromBengal,South Asia,with most contemporary models having four playing strings (similar to thesarod). It is thenationalinstrument ofBangladesh.The dotara is played in combination with other instruments inbhawaiya,murshidi, marfati,jari ganandkavigan.Comparatively, the sarod is a slightly larger and more elaborate instrument, being built with an additional set of resonantsympathetic strings.However, the dotara is still quite resonant and projective of its own sound, due to its rounded shape and overall construction. It is commonly played inBangladesh(where it is known as thenational instrument)and theIndian statesofAssam,West BengalandBihar.It was mentioned in a 14th-centurySaptakanda Ramayana.Later, it was adopted by the ascetic cults ofBaulsandFakirs.Today, it is also used to playHindustani ClassicalRagas.

Etymology

The word is fromEastern Indo-Aryan(do târ), literally "two strings", or “double-stringed”, with the suffix “-a” indicating “having, -ed”. The instrument is known asdotaraordütara(Bengali:দোতারা,Assamese:দোতাৰা) anddütüra(Assamese:দোতোৰা). Additionally, it was believed to have been called dotara due to the strings being of equal pitch in tuning.

History

Madhava Kandali,14th centuryAssamesepoet and writer ofSaptakanda Ramayana,lists several instruments in his version of "Ramayana", such as Dotara,mardala,tabal,jhajharetc.

Variations

The dotara is one of the most important instruments used in various genres offolk musicin Bengal and Assam. It has two main forms, theBanglaand thebhawaiya(Assamese form). TheBanglaform originated in theRahr Banglaregion, where it is still predominantly played. It has metal strings, which give it a brighter tone than other instruments played in the area. Although a dotara can have 4-5 strings, most playing is done primarily on two strings, hence the name.

Thebhawaiyaform is almost extinct in contemporary times, that has a more primeval beginningthan itsbanglacousin. Again the strings are its striking feature, being made either of thick cotton, silk or more popularly ofcatgut,giving it a more bass-rich tone. This instrument is widely used in eastern folk music forms such as the Bhhawaiya - of which theGoalpariyais a relatively well-known subcategory -theKamrupi lokgeet- the Mahishali and the Baul forms prevailing in and around the Bengal Province, including areas in East Bihar.

Construction

The dotara is a plucked stringed instrument, played in an open note combination, often played alongside folk percussive instruments such asDhol,KhholorMandira.It is made out ofneemor other hardwood, with an elongated, roundish belly for a soundbox, which tapers to a narrow neck culminating in a peg box which is often elaborately carved in the shape of a peacock-head, swan-head or other animal motifs. The fingerboard is fretless and made of brass or steel, as in a sarod. The soundbox of the instrument is covered with a tightly stretchedkidskinor lizard-skin, as in arabaabor a sarod.

Tuning

With four strings, the dotara is tuned as follows (from top to bottom)—Soh (lower)-Do-Do-Fah. The Indian notation would read: Pa - Sa - Sa - Ma with Do/Sa being the tonic/root note of the song.

See also

• Music of Bangladesh
• Dutar
• Sarod

External links

• Ahmed, Wakil (2012)."Dotara".InIslam, Sirajul;Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.).Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh(Second ed.).Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.