Describe a Popular Musical Instrument in Your Country Cue Card

Dec 21, 2022

Describe a Popular Musical Instrument in Your Country Cue Card is a topic in which the candidates should put forward their opinions regarding a popular instrument in their country and how it is played. Similar topics like this have been enclosed in the IELTS speaking section. The given topic is taken from the book named “IELTS - General Module (book - 4) Volume 4”. The candidates should present their views in a very proper and organized manner regarding this topic. 1 minute for taking notes and 2-3 minutes for speaking have been allotted for the candidates in the Cue card in IELTS Speaking part 2. Three different model answers regarding this topic called Describe a Popular Musical Instrument in Your Country Cue Card, with different perspectives have been given below. The questions this particular topic called Describe a Popular Musical Instrument in Your Country Cue Card includes are, What musical instrument it is?, How it is played?, and What sort of music it can play?

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Topic: Describe a Popular Musical Instrument in Your Country

Model Answer 1

What musical instrument it is?

In Western culture, both classical and traditional folk music from India is well-known. Indian musicians have long produced melodic, calming music using a wide range of instruments. In the Indian musical instruments culture, the tabla is regarded as the most popular one. Two drums, Bayan and Dayan, make up the majority of it, and essentially that is named after the left and right-hand positions. Goatskin is used to cover clay or metal containers made of brass, copper, or steel to create the drums, which are then played with the hands of the drummer. The drummer uses his or her hands to play the drums, which are formed of a layer of goatskin stretched over clay or metal containers made of brass, copper, or steel. The shapes of both drums are different from each other. Usually, the right drum is tubular and slimmer than the left. The tabla's most distinctive characteristic is the use of iron.

How it is played?

The tabla is an instrument that can be played by musicians both solo or in a group of other musical instruments. The performer had to sit on the ground for playing this instrument. A lot of different finger stroking and the art of moving hands have been made by the musician so that they can bring up some sounds from the tabla which is very melodious. Most of the time, the right drum is cylindrical and narrower than the left. The tabla's most distinctive characteristic is the use of iron.

What sort of music it can play?

Several ways are there by which the tabla can be played and each way comes with its personal Gharana. Basically, six prominent types of Gharanas are there which are distinguished by the names of the city where they first emerged, such as Lucknow, Delhi, Punjab, Benares, and Ajrara. In the country of India, the tabla is played to produce several kinds of music like khayal, thumri, and Sufi. The tabla was introduced to the Western music industry when Shri Ravi Shankar toured Europe and the United States with tabla master Allah Rakha, and his son, the renowned Zakir Hussain, further popularised it.

Model Answer 2

What musical instrument it is?

The first step in learning any Indian classical music is to learn how to play the Harmonium. It is a popular musical instrument in India and is essential for Indian vocalists. Although the instrument was developed in the West, it has become almost synonymous with Indian classical music. The instrument has keys similar to a piano and a hand-operated bellows located at the back of the instrument to pump air into it.

How it is played?

The musician sits on the ground and plays the harmonium. One hand is used to pump air into the bellows, while the other hand is used to play melodies on the instrument's keys. The primary distinction between a "reed organ" and a "Indian harmonium" is that Western music is based on harmony, whereas Indian music is based on melodies. As a result, a musician does not need to use both hands to play the melodies.

What sort of music it can play?

The modified harmonium is widely used in Hindustani vocal music, particularly in the states of Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana, as well as in Islamic Qawwali music. It is used to play 22 microtones that are not possible to play on a traditional harmonium. It consists of knobs beneath each note. To play a higher microtone, all notes except the first and fifth must be pulled out. It is well-known in India because Rabindranath Tagore used it to compose the popular Rabindra Sangeet. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, and Begum Akhtar, among others, popularised the instrument in India.

Model Answer 3

What musical instrument it is?

Veena is an important musical instrument in Indian culture and tradition. In Hindu mythology, the goddess Saraswati is said to have carried and played the Veena. As a result, it is one of India's oldest musical instruments, dating back to the 2nd century B.C. The Saraswati veena is commonly heard in Carnatic music, whereas the Rudra veena is heard mostly in Hindustani music. The veena has seven strings strung across twenty-four fixed frets. It is 1.5 m long and made of jackwood. The resonator (kudam) is a large round body with a thick, wide, tapering hollow neck (dandi), and a tuning box that curves downwards (yali). The frets are made of metal and are embedded in hardened beeswax mixed with resin.

How it is played?

The instrument is played by sitting cross-legged with the resonator or large body (kudam) to the right side of the musician (vainika). The four strings attached to the frets produce the melody. The other three buttons on the instrument's neck are used to keep time and play the drone. The left hand's fingers are used to pull, press, or glide the strings, while the right hand plucks and twangs them.

What sort of music it can play?

The veena is widely used in Carnatic music because of its ability to play all of the gamakas (oscillations). It is a complete instrument that includes all of the fundamental components, namely sruti, laya, and sahitya. The instrument's most distinguishing feature is its mellow tonal quality, which evokes a meditative atmosphere.

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