Traveling musicians in Nepal ネパールの旅する楽師
The Gandharbas (population 6,971 according to the 2021 census) used to make their living by visiting villages in Nepal and playing the sarangi, a stringed musical instrument. They sang epics of political feats and events, Hindu myths, blessings, auspicious songs, metaphysical (philosophical) songs and folk songs. However, since the 1970s, their occupation has gradually shifted to selling sarangi to foreign tourists. Today, the sound of sarangi has become part of the national culture, and their contact with foreigners has made the Gandharbas world-traveling musicians.
Sarangi（サーランギ）
The sarangi is a bowed four-stringed instrument made by Gandharba musicians to fit their own bodies. The body is made of hollowed-out wood covered with goatskin, and the strings are made of gut, nylon, or metal. The first string is tuned five degrees higher than the base note (the second and third string), and the fourth string is tuned four degrees lower than the base note: therefore, A-D-D-A. Strings are played using the fingernails of the left hand, which press the side of the string to change its pitch, while the second string was not played because it is a resonant string. The bow is made of horse tail hair or nylon and is coated in pine sap.
Saarangi gut strings（腸弦のサーランギ）
Before the advent of nylon strings in the 1950s, sarangi strings were made by hand from goat intestines. Krishna Bahadur Gandharba (1958-), a native of Gorkha District, made his sarangi around 1980, in his search for what he considered to be “real Gandharba.” Because gut strings cannot be stretched tightly, only low notes can be produced; conversely, the voice must be raised. From the video of Krishna’s performance, we present the sound of the “traditional” sarangi and the playing of a metaphysical (philosophical) song called Nirgun (formless).
Nylon-stringed sarangi（ナイロン弦のサーランギ）
Nylon-stringed sarangi have been used since around 1950 to play around villages, and are still used by many Gandharbas who work in the tourist area, to entertain foreign tourists. The first string is often metal. The size and shape of the instrument vary from one Gandharba to another. Jhalakman Gandharba (1935–2003), Radio Nepal’s resident musician and a nationally acclaimed singer who has performed many famous songs, played this type of instrument. It is made of lightweight wood and has a strap to play on its shoulders while standing.
Sarangi with metal strings（金属弦のサーランギ）
It is said that Ram Sarang Nepali (1950–1996), who is considered to be a master of the sarangi, started using metal guitar strings on his sarangi, after interacting with hippies in the 1970s. The material that the instrument body was made of also changed to a harder and heavier wood, and the shape of the instrument changed to a round and large resonating body. Gandharbas from within the Kathmandu Basin, such as Bharat Nepali (1954–), have mastered the performance of this kind of sarangi instrumental music and performed it globally.
Efforts are being made to standardize the instrument and train successors, and the number of sarangi players is spreading to non-Gandharbas, including foreigners.