The Sarod Tradition of Banaras: Crafting Resonance in the City of Music

The sarod is a fretless stringed instrument that occupies a unique position in Hindustani classical music. With its metallic fingerboard and sympathetic strings, the sarod produces a distinctive sound that can range from deeply meditative to intensely dramatic. Unlike the sitar with its gourd resonator, the sarod typically features a wooden body covered with goatskin, giving it a more percussive attack and a rich, woody tone that resonates beautifully in intimate performance settings.

Banaras sarod makers tend to favor slightly different proportions and wood selections, often resulting in instruments with warmer, more mellow tones. This tonal quality aligns perfectly with the contemplative, devotional atmosphere that permeates the city's musical culture. The instruments often feature subtle decorative elements that echo the intricate stonework found in Banaras' ancient temples and ghats.

The sarod makers of Banaras typically work in small family workshops tucked away in the narrow lanes of the old city. These craftsmen, many of whom come from families with generations of instrument-making experience, combine traditional techniques with subtle innovations. They carefully select teak or tun wood for the body, paying particular attention to the grain and resonance properties of each piece.

The process of creating a Banaras sarod is deeply methodical. The artisan begins by carving the body from a single block of wood, hollowing it with precision to achieve the desired acoustic properties. The metal fingerboard, usually made from stainless steel or chrome, is then fitted and polished to a mirror finish. The sympathetic strings, typically numbering between 11 and 15, are carefully positioned to enhance the instrument's harmonic richness.

The sarod crafted in Banaras tends to have a particularly warm, singing quality that complements the city's musical traditions. Local musicians often praise these instruments for their ability to sustain notes with remarkable clarity, making them ideal for the slow, contemplative alaps that are central to Hindustani classical music. The slightly mellower tone compared to Kolkata sarods makes them particularly suited for late-night ragas and devotional music.

Many accomplished sarod players have specifically sought out Banaras-made instruments for their unique tonal qualities. The instruments are said to respond beautifully to the subtle microtonal inflections that are so important in Indian classical music, allowing performers to explore the emotional depths of ragas with exceptional nuance.

Despite being less commercially prominent than their Kolkata counterparts, the sarod makers of Banaras continue to uphold their craft with dedication. They face challenges from mass-produced instruments and changing musical preferences, but their commitment to quality and tradition remains strong. Several workshops still operate using traditional methods, with knowledge passed down through apprenticeships and family lineages.

The future of Banaras sarod making depends largely on continued support from serious musicians who appreciate the subtle differences that handcrafted instruments can offer. As the global interest in Indian classical music continues to grow, there may be renewed appreciation for the distinctive voice of the Banaras sarod.

The tradition represents more than just instrument making; it embodies the deeper cultural values of Banaras itself—patience, devotion to craft, and an understanding that true artistry cannot be rushed. Each sarod that emerges from these workshops carries with it not just the wood and metal from which it is made, but the spiritual resonance of a city that has been creating music for millennia.