Kochi, Dec 20 (ANI): Folklore musicians, 'Vayali Folklore
Troupe' enthralled the audience as they played
near-extinct original folk songs on entirely handmade
bamboo percussion instruments in India's southern Kochi
city. The troupe from Thrissur district in Kerala is now
gaining popularity and is known as the "Bamboo Band"
locally and is receiving calls to conduct such shows in
public for entertainment and special functions. The
instruments for the bamboo orchestra are hand-designed,
given its final form at Kattappana in Iduki district of
Kerala and the raw material is procured from the pristine
hills of Wayanad. In the orchestra, the flute is the lead
instrument. Among other instruments are Mulam Chenda,
Mulam Thudi and Mazha Mooli. The team has come up with
innovative instruments as well, an example being a
five-drum set, The cylindrical instruments are
characteristic of the African 'Conga'. The drumhead is a
calf-skin cover fastened with strings of rope while the
base is left open and struck with bare hands.The annual
event is being organised by the Kerala State Bamboo
Mission of the Kerala Bureau of Industrial Promotion under
the Department of Commerce and Industry.
