Abstract

This paper aims to examine the importance of Goat skin and other livestocks in making various musical instruments in Indian Music. From ancient times, it has been the tradition of our Indian music culture of making musical instruments from animals’ hide and other body parts like bone, tusks, horns, skin and so on. Various animals’ body parts were used by our primitives in making musical instruments. There are several instances in the music literature which prove this fact. As the human civilisation embarked on the path of development, music also along with this journey continued to develop. With the passage of time, the need of musical instruments was felt by primitives. Then they tried to make such instruments with the help of those natural resources which were available to them easily. At the beginning of this journey, they used various animals’ (like Ox, Elephant, Sheep) body parts for this purpose in plenty. Today as well, this culture of using these livestock is continue and at present, Goat skin is broadly being used for making most of the Indian musical instruments. Most of the instrument makers have been preferring broadly the Goat skin, Catgut and other body parts for making instruments over the years. This research paper has been completed through analytical methods with the help of primary and secondary data followed by MLA referencing style.