From the ancient times musical instruments are inherent accompa-niment of singing and dancing as well as of festivals and rituals of Assam. Archaelogical finds and exerpts from different ancient manuscripts clearly define the treasure house of ancient musical instruments. As Assamese society and culture has emerged from the confluence of Aryans as well as different tribesmen, the range of musical instrument too have both ethnic as well as Aryan origin.
In ancient literature we come across names of musical instruments like Bhamori, Bhendi, Bena, Beni, Bhemehi, Dondi, Dindi, Dochar, Dhumochi, Mochuoi, Moruya, Ponow, Remochi, Shingowan, Toka, Tabla, Tupechi, Turya etc. Most of them are either obsolete or unknown at present. The present day musical instruments of Assam can be divided into four categories: (i) Stringed instruments, (ii) Blow
instruments like pipe or flute etc., (iii) Leather instruments (a musical instruments consisting of a hollow round frame with skin stretched tightly across one or both ends) and (iv) Rhythm instruments (made of metal).
• Stringed instrument: Among stringed instruments Veen or Veena is the most ancient one. Sarenda, a shorter form of violin like instrument is used by the Bodo community. Among other instruments Dotara and Tokari are very prominent which are exclusively used in folk music. Laotokari is a typical instrument made of a gourd shell and a single string which is commonly used by Boiragee (bohemian) sing- ers. Other stringed instruments include Khamok, Viponchi, Rudraveena, Ram Veena etc.
Blowinstrument: Among blow instruments Pipes and Horns are the most prominent instruments bearing unique
Chiphung, the Bodo flute
features. For making a Pipe
(Penpa) the skeleton instrument is made by a reed and then it is further strength- ened by inserting it into a buffalo horn or any other such hollow structure. Buf- falo horn pipes (Mohor singer penpa) are an integral part of Bihu songs and dances of
Assam. The pipes made of two buffalo horns are called juriya penpa or paired pipes from which we get a more sharp pitch.
Horns (Singa) are modified version of pipes. Ron Singa, Khong Singa, Raam Singa etc. can be mentioned which are used on specific purpose only. Various horns are made to use them in various purpose in various circumstances and hence they differ in shape and size holding various names. In certain tribal communities exorcism is carried out by blowing horns along with other rituals.
Among other blow instruments Kali and Sehnai are promi- nently used in marriage celebrations. They are made of metal and wood. Flute is perhaps the most popular among the blow in- struments. It is made of hollow Bamboo tube with some holes cut on its body. Bodo flute is a bigger version which is called Chiphung. In Goalpara a special kind of flute is used in Manasa puja called ‘Banshi’ or ‘Bon Banshi’.
Such similar flute like instruments are Benu or Muruli and Bheri. Sutuli is another blow instrument made of clay. Sangkha is yet another blow instrument which is made of conch shells. It is used in religious rituals. In ancient times, it
was used to herald a war.
Leather instrument: Shells made from clay, metal or wood which are covered by leather are called leather instru- ments. The most popular and ancient leather instrument of Assam is Dhol and other instruments of the same family. In Bihu festival Dhol is an integral instrument. An expert musician can create a magical atmosphere with Dhol. In Upper Assam Bihudhol, in lower Assam Dhepadhol, Bordhol, Joydhol, Patidhol etc. can be mentioned which are extensively used. In Mangaldoi areas, Dhepadhol is used by filling it with water.
Khol belongs to the same family of Dhol. Khol is found in Orissa, Bengal and Manipur also. Khol is used in Satriya dance and other Satriya rituals. Mridang is similar to Dhol but the shell is made up of clay.
Another important leather instrument is Doba. Doba is exclu- sively used in Namghar. It is a huge leather instrument made of clay shell. A smaller version named as Nagara is used in religious rituals which can be easily transported.
Other leather instruments include Dagar, Dhak, Kurkuri, Pakhuwaj, Tabla, Dama or Damama, Gumukh, Kohola or Kohali, Potoh, Donka, Dindim, Dundubhi, Joydhak, Dhulok, Khumuchi, Maadol, Dambaru etc.
Rhythm instrument : Rhythm instruments are used to keep rhythm in singing or in dancing. Kanh or bell metal finds extensive use in these rhythm instruments. Taal is the most widely used rhythm instrument. Depending on the pitch and volume different Taals are used. Larger Taals are known as Ram Taal or Bhor Taal. Another kind of large taal used in Vaishnava rituals is Bhuttaal. Smallest Taal is known as Khutitaal. Different other Taals are Patitaal or Kherengi taal, Mandira, Sukannanir taal, Biyahor taal, Khonjari or Khanjarika etc.
Kanh is a the name of a different instrument too. Round and flat this instrument is mainly of two types: Bor Kanh and Soru Kanh. Apart from them Manjar, Jhanjar or Jhanjarika are also found. Another rhythm
instrument is the bell. These are mainly used in temples. Tilinga is the smaller bell. Smaller bells worn in waist is known as Kinkini and those worn on feet are known as Junuka, Nepur and Pajop depending on their size.
Other instruments which cannot come under these categories are Gagana, Taka, Reponi etc. Gagana is made of small bamboo slices. Though it is played by blowing, the slice of bamboo has to be operated by hand.
Bamboo sawn in the middle and held together at one end by its node which is played by bringing both part at the other end is called Taka. They are extensively used in Bihu songs and dances.
In Assam, folk music and classical music both have their own breed of musical instruments. In modern times, Western instruments have gradually replaced the indegenous ones. These ethnic instruments have gradually become confined to the festivals or in the temples only