VINA MAKING AT BRHADDHVANI
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD VINA?
There are vinas and vinas… Makers and makers… Sellers and sellers… Buyers and buyers… But how to choose a good vina?
Brhaddhvani embraces an individualistic craftsmanship rather than a standardised workmanship. Every vina is an individual.
An Ekanda vina, made from a single piece of wood, is preferable due to its structural integrity. While an ottu vina (made from multiple pieces of wood) is acceptable, it might be susceptible to tuning issues in different climates, especially during travel, depending on the type of wood used. Jackwood is the preferred material for its traditional value and lighter weight, though other woods like red cedar can also be used. The crucial factor is that the wood must have been properly seasoned.
Having a sound hole on the top of the kudam (the resonating chamber) is beneficial as it enhances the resonance of the vina. This innovation was introduced by Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer on vinas crafted by the renowned Narayana Achari of Tanjore.
At Brhaddhvani, our craftsman ensures meticulous attention to detail in creating premium quality vinas, working under the direct supervision of Karaikudi S. Subramanian. This includes every step from selecting the wood, cutting, seasoning, crafting the finished product, and ensuring precise fretting in all 96 tonal positions
PORTABLE VINA
A portable vina assembled.
Brhaddhvani offers a practical solution to the challenges of traveling with a vina. Karaikudi Subramanian and P. Nataraja Achari have designed an acoustic, portable vina that can be easily dismantled into separate components and securely packed into durable, high-quality suitcases. This design makes it suitable for check-in luggage, eliminating the need to pay extra for check-in of traditional vina boxes that are shaped to fit the instrument.
The portable vina retains the full acoustic sound of the traditional vina without the use of electrification. All parts of the vina are carefully treated to maintain pitch accuracy and preserve the instrument’s acoustic quality.
Each instrument is handcrafted with precision, and Dr. Karaikudi Subramanian personally oversees every step of the process to ensure the highest quality. While the size and length of the portable vina remain consistent with traditional models, it is slightly heavier due to the added treatments required to ensure its durability and strength, allowing it to withstand the rigors of frequent dismantling and reassembly.
The dismantling and assembly process of the portable vina is straightforward. Every portable vina is equipped with a Brhaddhvani langer and nagapasam which allows the strings to be easily removed, rolled, and tucked without the need for cutting or replacing them.
When disassembling the vina, the kudam (resonator) can be detached and carried separately as hand luggage. The kudam does not contain any metal components or other materials restricted in carry-on luggage, ensuring compliance with airline regulations. Each vina is supplied with a custom-designed, extra-sturdy fret cover, which securely protects the fretboard during transport. Additionally, each detachable component is meticulously treated to enhance durability and strength, ensuring that the instrument’s parts and wood remain intact and undamaged during repeated dismantling and assembly.
Detailed pictures or videos of the construction process are not be available. If you have any questions or wish to understand more about the vina, including its dismantling and assembling process, please feel free to contact us for a live demonstration at our showroom in Trichy.
VINA FRETTING
"After getting back home from a All India Radio concert performance in the late 80s, a noteworthy vina player called me to know which maker fretted my vina so that he could go to the 'fretter'. I told him the fretter's name was Karaikudi Subramanian and he laughed. The correct fretting of vina was a spiritual struggle which I went through consistently from the 1960s. The struggle ended in 2016!"
Dr. Karaikudi S. Subramanian
We need to know only one thing about the vina when we are buyers - fretting! Anyone can ‘fret and fume’ to fret a veena, but it is really an art to fret. While many can attempt to fret a veena, mastering this art requires extensive training or the expertise of someone familiar with the distinction between 'equal tempered intonation' and 'just intonation'. At Brhaddhvani, we have dedicated efforts to conduct substantial and unique research on fretting techniques. Dr. Karaikudi S. Subramanian, with decades of experimentation, has developed a process that ensures perfect alignment of frets, enabling multiple veena players to perform together in unison. The fretting of the vinas made at Brhaddhvani is a distinct outcome of Dr. KSS' decades-long research, where innovative ideas and discoveries have contributed to its uniqueness.
It is essential that the twelve svarasthanas of the veena are precisely tuned according to 'just intonation' rather than 'equal tempered intonation', which is used in Western calibrations and is available through various apps. Just intonation is based on the 'single harmonic series’ and offers a natural and pure tonal arrangement within the 12-tone system. For instance, the vibrations of the third note GA (GA2) is less than the equal tempered ‘major third’. The 'equal temperament' used in Western music is standardized but may result in slight pitch-differences, affecting the overall tonal relationships.
The 12 svarasthanas must be precisely aligned in 96 places across different octaves on the veena's four main strings, tuned to Sa-Pa-Sa-Pa. This way when vina players of the same school play together, it will be ‘monophonic’ (assuming that the players are capable of tuning their instruments perfectly). Otherwise, it may result in a 'cacophonous' performance.
An essential aspect of fretting is to minimize the space between the string and the fret without causing the vibratory string to hit the fret and disrupt the resultant tone. This can be a challenging area to handle, as some 'fretters' may inadvertently push down the fret too hard, affecting subsequent frets and creating uneven spaces. This phenomenon, known as 'amukku melam,' leads to difficulties in playing and achieving a clear sound.
At Brhaddhvani, our veenas are meticulously fretted to ensure optimal performance. Our commitment to Dr. KSS' decades-long research and his unique ideas has resulted in vinas that stand out in their precision and craftsmanship.
VINA AND TAMBUR REPAIR
Very often old vinas, elegantly carved in well-seasoned, rare wood, are abandoned due to extensive damage. Brhaddhvani is committed to preserving old craftsmanship by providing a comprehensive range of repair services for both vinas and tamburs. Our repair services are conducted with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring the preservation of the instrument's originality and character
... to order a custom made vina or tambur from Brhaddhvani.
The proceeds go entirely to the welfare of craftsmen.
SUPPORT CRAFTSMEN
Vina and tambur making at Brhaddhvani serves a dual-purpose. In addition to providing durable, high-quality vina and tamburs, we are committed to supporting craftsmanship. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive deterioration in the already challenging livelihoods of craftsmen. We have created a safe environment for them to earn their living. The proceeds of vinas purchased from Brhaddhvani go entirely towards the welfare of craftsmen and other artisans involved in the labour. We are grateful to all those who connect with our cause.