Nadaswaram (Nagaswaram, Nadhaswaram, Nathaswaram)
VEGANThe South Indian nadaswaram is an extremely powerful double reed instrument. Due to its intense volume and strength it is basically an outdoor instrument. The fingering is similar to that of the Indian flute, but the pitch can also be altered by changing the pressure of lips an air to articulate half notes and micro intervals.
The nadaswaram can be considered the larger brother of the North Indian shehnai. It is traditionally played at temple feasts under open sky. Its penetrating and far carrying tone makes it an ideal partner for duets with the powerful South Indian barrel drum thavil. has been made popular in the West by legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Mariano, who has studied nadaswaram in South India and used it in many of his concerts and recordings.
