The shehnai is a traditional Indian woodwind instrument. It’s also known as the North Indian Oboe, and it looks a lot like the more traditional Western Oboe. It’s a long, often wooden instrument with two double reeds at the top (known as a quadruple reed) and a bell that gradually widens at the bottom. Different notes are produced by covering or uncovering the six to nine holes on the instrument while using breath control to “blow” or vibrate the top reeds, similar to a recorder or song flute. Because mouth control and how the mouth is held (ombrachure) require practice, the shehnai requires considerable skill to master.
The shehnai could have come from a variety of places. Some believe it is descended from the nai, a Persian instrument. The Persian word nai means flute. Egyptian tombs dating back five millennia contain images of the nai. The pungi, a snake-charming instrument, has a closer connection.
Some say the shehnai evolved from the pungi in order to produce better, more performance-worthy sounds. According to one legend, the pungi’s sounds were so repulsive to the Shah (king) that he (and it’s unclear which Shah was involved) banned the instrument, prompting the development of a more acceptable instrument in the king’s court. Regardless of its origins, the shehnai plays an important role in secular and sacred music.
During many formal occasions, the shehnai is accompanied by other Indian instruments. It is frequently heard at weddings, where it is thought to be particularly auspicious. Shehnais are sometimes used in processions, such as funeral processions. The sound is mournful, like a cross between an oboe and a muted trumpet, and traditional Indian music uses a chord structure that is very different from Western music. Hearing the shehnai in Indian music may sound very different to a Western listener at first, though many describe the instrument’s sounds as peaceful, meditative, and beautiful.
Many Indian musicians became interested in concert performances of traditional Indian music in the twentieth century. Ustad Bismillah Khan (1916-2006) was a virtuoso shehnai player. He is credited with exceptional skill, and according to some critics and fans, he came as close to making the instrument “talk” as it is possible. Many recordings of Khan and others are available due to his success and the trend toward concert performances of Indian music. The sounds of this instrument can also be heard in almost every Bollywood film.