Owner: HWMC
Catalogue #: 2AS-AERV-10

Reedpipes

Sri Lanka 'Horanewa' (‘Horanǟva’)

Sri Lanka
Folk Instrument

Wood, metal, reed
Late 20th century
Height: 10.25 in; Bell Diameter: 2.38 in
Aerophones – Wind Instruments Proper – Reedpipes

The Sri Lanka ‘horanewa’ (‘horanǟva’), sometimes referred to as a ‘temple clarinet,’ is somewhat like an oboe, with a quadruple reed.  It is purportedly, from the Sinhalese quadruple reed version of the Indian sahnai.  Traditionally it was made with the horn of a buffalo and brass. The horanawa, along with the dawla, thammattama, getaberaya, yakberaya are perceived as Sri Lankan traditional instruments.  They were used in various Buddhism, Hinduism and pre-religious belief related practices.

The four parts of the ‘horanewa‘ consists of:
a)  muhukkuwa (metal/brass bell at the end)
b)  horane kanda (the wooden body with finger holes)
c)  nalli kura (metal tube/neck w/lip plate connecting the mouthpiece with the main body)
d)  ipiyawa (the double or quadruple palm leaves reed bound with a thread)

The horanawa played at the Tooth Temple, a Buddhist temple in Kandy, Sri Lanka, consisted of seven holes.  However, some musicians prefer the six finger holes, as seen here, since it suffices for the requirement of producing the melodic range, plus many buffalo horn segments were not long enough to make more than six holes.  Decorative patterns of etched rings adorn the body and bell seen in this 20th century ‘horanewa.’ 

Resource: https://omeka-s.grinnell.edu/s/MusicalInstruments/item/2373

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