Spotlight

The Violin Was Born in India

Violin maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman holds the view that the violin's birthplace is India. He expounded this view in his presidential address at the annual conference of the Tamil Isai Sangam in Madras in December 1984. Following are excerpts from his speech: The violin is thought of as a foreign instrument. But going into its origin, it can be deduced that the violin originated in India. In the temple festivals of the olden days, the oduvars are said to have sung to the accompaniment of instruments like the flute, the yazh and the muzhavu. I feel the violin has emerged from the yazh, a stringed instrument of this kind.

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