Music of the Kalash

Flute


The flute is called ishpri. It is played only during the autumn season.
It is an end blown wooden pipe, sometimes metallic, and have no mouthpiece. There are five finger-holes and the instrument is held inclined. The length is about 30 cm and 1.5 cm in diameter.

Usually ishpri is a solo instrument and played alone but sometimes it is accompanied by dau (or daf in Khowar), an one sided frame drum, an instrument similar to a tambourine. This set playing, ishpri and dau is accompanied by dances. Actually, this is not traditionl Kalasha type of music but that of the Tsatruma people, the converted Kafirs.
But the Kalasha perform this type of music on weddings and also on the last day of the Chaumos festival.


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