History of the Sitar

Series Summary

The Sitar is most well know to the Western World as the instrument of India. Although it is believed that the Sitar has existed in its current form since the 1700’s its popularity among the West is a very recent phenomenon. Musicians such as George Harrison of the Beatles and Ravi Shankar helped popularize the instrument during the late 60’s and early 70’s. With its beautiful Eastern melodies, the Sitar became an easily recognizable instrument in Western Popular culture.

Although the majority of its melodies are played on only a few strings, the Sitar is a very complicated instrument to learn. For instance, did you know that in Indian culture, there are certain melodies that are only meant to be played during certain times of the day? In these videos you will not only learn how to play the Sitar, but you will also learn about the culture and the history surrounding this instrument.

Video Transcript

"The Sitar is an instrument whose origins go back hundreds of years. You find long necked lutes as early as about the 19th century in cave paintings and temple paintings in early India. But really the instrument as we know it now only goes back to about the 18th century. There are some misconceptions about it going back to the 13th century; but now pretty much scholars have agreed that it’s an instrument whose origins are a blend of central Asian Persian influences and indigenous Indian influences. And the Sitar from about the 18th century was played mainly in court as a court instrument. Played for the patrons who were first kings and feudal lords. So it is quite a regal kind of instrument. You see some photographs from the 19th century of Sitar being played to accompany dance by dancing women or vocal music and gradually it became a solo instrument."