Classification of musical instruments

 

        When it comes to the various musical instruments in the world, they are all different from each other. We can see many musical instruments that produce music based on wind, brass, and strings, with very sweet tones. According to Sri Lankan tradition, the classification of musical instruments is as follows:

                          1.  Athatha

                          2.  Vithatha

                          3.  Vithathathatha

                          4.  Gana

                          5.  Susira

  Atata is an instrument played only with the hands. Vitata is an instrument played only with a stick. Vitatatata is an instrument played with both hands and a stick. Ghana is an instrument with a solid surface. For example; talampata, cymbal. Susira is an instrument that produces sound using the wind.Talented artists for each instrument have emerged from around the world as well as from Sri Lanka.

              We can name Zakir Hussain, Yani, A.R. Rahman, and Hariprasad Chaurasia as musicians who are skilled in playing musical instruments imported from abroad.From Sri Lanka, we can name talented musicians such as Peshala Manoj, Manoj Peiris, Mr. Flut, Pandit Amaradeva, and Rasika Senadeera.