Note on Israj, a remarkable Indian stringed instrument
D. B. Deodhar · Proceedings of the Physical Society of London · 1923
Israj is a fascinating Indian stringed instrument possessing remarkable acoustic properties. In this instrument all the overtones, which would have been absent according to the Young-Helmholtz law, are brought into prominence by a special form of bridge. The upper portion of the belly is covered by a light skin membrane; and an extra chamois leather ribbon is stretched along a diameter perpendicular to the directions of the vibrating strings. The mechanical impulses of the bridge are carried to the membrane, which is thus energised and emits several harmonics. The chamois leather makes a gradual distribution of pushes from the centre outwards. Thirteen additional tuned wires making an equal tone temperament scale produce a considerable resonance effect. Israj is like a Sitar in that it is a fretted instrument, and it is like a violin in that it is excited by bowing. The tone quality is appreciably richer and fuller than that of a European violin.