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End of an Era: Santoor Maestro Departed to Heavenly Abode
Santoor [100 strings musical instrument] Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’s demise left a vacuum in Hindustani Classical Music field
Santoor Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma’s demise last week on 10th May 2022, in Mumbai, India, created a vacuum in Hindustani Classical Instrumental Music. He was 84 and surrendered to cardiac arrest. His efforts placed, lesser known musical instrument Santoor from Kashmir, to a national and then to a world platform. It is considered End of an Era: Santoor Maestro Departed to Heavenly Abode!
What is Santoor?
Santoor is an old classical 100 stringed instrument from Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is also known as Shata- Tantri Veena or 100 stringed Veena (Stringed instrument). It is a mix of trapezoid shape Hammered Dulcimer and Iranian Santur/Santoor. Wood board is made of Walnut wood and has 25 bridges. Each bridge has 4 strings. That makes it a total 100 strings instrument.
This musical instrument is of Hammered Dulcimer or struck zither family famous across Europe, Middle East and South Asian regions. Santoor was invented in Iran and Mesopotamia area.