The Gei ȕ

(A story of Naga Traditional musical instrument in transition through Contemporary times)

D. Atso Chasie with his instrument Gei ȕ.

The Gei ȕ is an improvised three-stringed bowed musical instrument with its
resonant base either carved out of bison horn or bamboo or covered with animal
hide. The name 'Gei' is derived from Tenyidie which means 'to saw’ and ȕ
which means tone or sound. The Gei ȕ originally evolved from traditional
bowed string instruments like the Tati and the Nraiibu used by the Angami
tribe, Marok Kongki used by the Ao and the Gongkih Lahha used by the
Konyak and the Phom tribes. The Gei ȕ being a very versatile instrument is
used in both traditional and contemporary music arrangements.

Drawing inspirations from traditional instruments from other parts of the Asian
countries like Mongolia, China, Japan to name a few and with the understanding
of the need for cultural traditions to evolve with changing times, this 3 stringed
indigenous folk instrument was created by Naga Musician D. Atso Chasie a 31
year old musician from Khonoma village noted that the instrument is a more
refined version of the traditional musical instruments used by Nagas, and it can
blend in with both traditional and contemporary tunes. According to Chasie, the
base of the instrument itself is an assemblage of a number of our age old
instruments. The instrument has been created with flexibility to suit the wants
and needs of the user, i.e. two bow strings and one plucking string.

1 | compiled by I. Nungsang Tzudir, 2016.

 D. Atso Chasie at Hornbill festival, Nagaland.

Gei-ü draws inspiration from our traditional instruments, whereby, the base
itself is an assemblage of a number of our age old instruments. With the help of
a fellowship he received in 2014 under the Centre for Cultural Research and
Training, Chasie worked on the instrument for almost four years, it was finally
created this year. Chasie presented the Gei-ü this year at the Global Youth
Peace Fest 2017 where he performed along with a Japanese artist.
Among the various traditional Naga Musical instruments which are on the
verge of extinction in the contemporary context, the Gei u emerged with a small
effort to keep up with the world whilst keeping our identity intact. It is an
instrument improvised for all culturally conscious musicians willing to explore.
It is an instrument which is not confined to a few tribes but the Nagas as a
whole and that which is presentable and risk worthy in the global arena,” stated
Chasie.
Some of the musical instruments which inspired D.Atso chasie are the erhu,
Tati, Nraiibu, Marok Kongki etc.

2 | compiled by I. Nungsang Tzudir, 2016.

 TATI

Jiviu Punyii holding a Tati instrument. Photographed at Dziileke sept.2014

I. The Tati is a one stringed traditional musical instrument, Tati is a one stringed
plucked instrument mostly used to accompany various romantic traditional
songs. The Tati is an instrument of both men and women not limited to a
particular time or song. It is popularly used by the Angami Nagas and
Chakesang Nagas to sing traditional folk. The instrument measuring about 3-4
foot in length is made of a dried caved-out Bottle Gourd. This Bottle Gourd is
covered with thin film, such as the bladder of animals (originally) and attached
to one end of a pole. A string is tied between the two ends of the pole over the
film covered caved Bottle Gourd. It has only two musical notes, DO and SO or
so’ and do’ (octave).The rhythm of the Tati is usually in ¾ time. When a
musician plays the instrument, he uses his right hand to pluck the string and
the left hand to mute or adjust the tension of the vibrating string.

Like all the other string instruments, the Tati produces sound by the vibration
of the string and the sound is enlarged by the resonance of the plate fitted at
the top. To raise or lower note of the Tati, the player can adjust the pitch of the
string by increasing or decreasing the tension of the strings
Unlike the guitar or other stringed instruments, the Tati cannot produce loud
sounds. Despite its limited notes the Tati produces a very unique sound, it is
mainly designed to harmonise and to maintain a sense of rhythm to a song.
Many a times it is also used as a decorative piece to hold during a
performance.

There are two fixed points of each string. The mechanical wave which is
generated by the Pluck of the hand will be reflected at these fixed points. The
overlap of the reflected wave and the progressive wave causes the vibration of
the air and therefore produces the sound. Because the Tati is designed mainly
to produce a harmony of rhythm to a song, the resonating box is selected
randomly, regardless of its shape or size.

3 | compiled by I. Nungsang Tzudir, 2016.

 Nraiibu (cup violin)

Visito Meyase holding a Nraiibu instrument.

II. The Nraiibu stands for a gentleman and forbids Women to even touch it. A
smaller instrument shaped like the Naga Tati, around 1half feet in length,
which the player uses a bow. According to folklores, ‘the strings are stolen or
obtained from the back of a running horse.’

Through the friction of the bow and the string, a sharp piercing sound is
Produced. The Nraiibu has a wider range of notes and requires

Marok Kongki

Tungtiyengla Jamir, playing the traditional Marok Kongki.

III. Marok Kongki is one of the musical instruments popularly used by the Ao
tribe. The instrument, believed to be originated from LONGKHUM VILLAGE
currently under MOKOKCHUNG district of Nagaland. The Marok Kongki is
made from a good quality of hard and thin bamboo, precisely selected by an
experienced luthier, with its length varying from two feet to two and a half feet
long .

4 | compiled by I. Nungsang Tzudir, 2016.

 Sometimes a shell of bitter gourd is used for the sound resonator, a feet long
and the circumference of 25cm.The cup top is covered with bamboo shell
besides this, a bow is required to play. To make the bow, two things are
important, firstly, a thin bamboo half an inch in width and about a feet long is
needed. Secondly, a bamboo fiber is thinned down with the help of a sharp
dao, this fiber is tied at one end of the stick and it is cleaned or rosined with
charcoal. The strings are finely made from along maiden’s hair.

As per the oral tradition, it is said that man learnt the method of playing this
instrument from the crab when its ten fingers move one after another. Out of
this movement, man learnt how to use his fingers playing the Marok Kongki.
Both men and women can play this instrument without any restriction; it is
played mainly at mid night.

Gongkih Lahha

IV. The Gongkih Lahha plays a vital instrument of accompaniment to the Konyak
tribe and the Phom tribe under Longleng district of Nagaland. Fig no 4, shows a
recently made Gongkih, where the tunning pegs and the resonating box is
replaced by metal, with the bow made out of bamboo. It is playable by both
genders. The instrument can be played any time of the year, joy, sympathy,
sadness or even leisure.

5 | compiled by I. Nungsang Tzudir, 2016.