Shehnai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The shehnai (Persian: شهنای) is an aerophonic instrument which is thought to bring good luck, and as a result, is widely used in North India for marriages and processions.
This tube-like instrument gradually widens towards the lower end. It usually has between six and nine holes. It employs two sets of double reeds, making it a quadruple reed woodwind. By controlling the breath various tunes can be played on it.
Ustad (Master) Bismillah Khan was a well-known shehnai player.
[edit] Origin of the shehnai
The shehnai was created by improving upon the pungi. There are two common legends of its origin. In the first, a Shah banned the playing of the pungi in his court due to its shrill sound. A barber, belonging to a family of musicians, improved on it and created the shehnai. As it was played in the Shah's court and giving due reference to the 'nai' or barber, it was called shehnai.
In the other story, it was named after a player of the shehnai, called Saina.
Yet another theory is that the name derives from the combination of the Persian words shah, meaning king, and nai, meaning flute, to give the meaning "the king's flute".
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