- Chimta
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Chimta Percussion instrument Other names Chimpta, musical fire tongs Classification idiophone Related instruments Dhol Musicians Arif Lohar, Kamal Heer A Chimta (Punjabi: ਚਿਮਟਾ) literally means tongs. Over time it has evolved into a traditional percussion instrument of South Asia by the permanent addition of small brass jingles.[1] This instrument is often used in popular Punjabi folk songs, Bhangra music and the Sikh religious music known as Gurbani Kirtan. The player of the Chimta is able to produce a chiming sound if he holds the joint of the Musical Instrument in one hand and strikes the two sides of the Chimta together. The jingles are made of metal and thus it produces a metallic sound and helps to keep up the beat of the song. [2]
In Bhangra music as well or at weddings it is often combined with Dhol and Bhangra dancers and helps to keep the tempo of the songs.
Contents
Construction and Design
The Chimta consists of a long, flat folded piece of metal steel or iron strip. The flat pieces of iron are two in number and they are pointed at one end. On the other end of the metal a ring is attached. The metal pieces of the chimta has bells or loose metal strips attached along the outer sides, side by side or at regular intervals. Sometimes seven pairs of the jingles are attached to it. The rings are plucked in a downward motion to produce tinkling sounds. Chimtas with large discs are used at rural festivals while ones with smaller discs are often used as an accompaniment to bhangra dancers and singers of traditional Indian hymns. [3]
Notable players
The Late Alam Lohar is famous for playing this instrument and introducing it globally, today great musicians like Kamal Heer and Arif Lohar plays this instrument. Also known as the "rusty tambourine sword", the chimta has been spotted being played by members of the experimental rock band His Name Is Alive on recent tours.
Images and Video examples (External links)
- chimta taken by (David Courtney)
References
- ^ "Music of India". http://chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/chimpta.html. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- ^ "Maps Of India". http://www.mapsofindia.com/himachal-pradesh/musical-instruments/chimta.html. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- ^ "Maps of India". http://www.mapsofindia.com/himachal-pradesh/musical-instruments/chimta.html. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
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