Flutes of Rajasthan - Music of the Surnaiya Langa

Karim Khan Langa and Mala Khan Langa

Photo by Sravan Kumar. Courtesy of ARCE.

Karim Khan, perhaps the most emminent musician of the surnaiya langa community, playing the double flute - dedhi jodi pawa.

Photo by Sravan Kumar. Courtesy of ARCE.

Mala Khan, playing the narh.

Photo by Sravan Kumar. Courtesy of ARCE.

Alauddin Khan with the sarinda. This is the only string instrument that is used to accompany the wind instruments of the surnaiya langas.

Photo by Sravan Kumar. Courtesy of ARCE.

Dedhi jodi meaning a pair that is one and a half. These are double flutes, the longer one serving as a drone. These flutes are called pawa, satara or algoza. Rajasthani musicians, and the surnaiya langas in particular have decorative bead work as embellishments.

Photo by Sravan Kumar. Courtesy of ARCE.

The jodi pawa or double flute. It is also referred to as algoza or satara. This pair has bandings of silver, a gift from the patron of the musician.

Photo by Sravan Kumar. Courtesy of ARCE.

The murli is a commonly played instrument among the surnaiya langa. It has a gourd body and twin flutes in one piece, one of which serves as a drone.

Photo by Sravan Kumar. Courtesy of ARCE.

This album showcases a range of wind instruments played by Karim Khan Langa and Mala Khan Langa of the Surnaiya Langa, one of the hereditary castes of musicians of Western Rajasthan. They are part of the Jajmani patronage system, and are musicians of the Sindhi Sipahi, a herding community. Surnaiya Langa play only wind instruments, though they play the sarinda, a stringed instrument, as an accompaniment to wind instruments. Karim Khan is one of the foremost musicians of this community. Mala Khan, his brother is one of the few Surnaiya Langas who play the narh.

Track Listing

101	Sindhi Rag Rano	Karim Khan Langa	7:50
102	Sindhi Rag Jog	Karim Khan Langa	10:46
103	Rajasthani Rag Khamaichi	Karim Khan Langa	10:28
104	Rajasthani Rag Soob	Karim Khan Langa and Mala Khan Langa	10:52
105	Barag	Karim Khan Langa	8:36
201	Rajasthani Rag Asa	Karim Khan Langa	11:32
202	Rajasthani Rag Bhairvi	Karim Khan Langa and Ajim Khan Langa	9:43
203	Rajasthani Rag Sorath	Karim Khan and Ajim Khan Langa	8:49
204	Barsalo	Karim Khan Langa	12:22
301	Rajasthani Rag Bilawal	Karim Khan Langa	12:49
302	Lodau dhun	Mala Khan Langa	9:26
303	Banna Makhna	Mala Khan Langa	14:44
304	Lali	Mala Khan Langa	3:42