South India: Villuppattu - The Bow Song

The villuppattu ("song of the bow") is a tradition of epic and ritual songs from the Tamil region, performed here by S. P. Muttulakshmi and T. Muttusvami Pulavar: the main instrument (the large villu bow) and light percussion instruments provide the rhythm for the chanting of sacred texts rising from the temple.

Villuppattu orchestras perform at major seasonal village festivals held in lower-status Hindu temples dedicated to a demon-god and/or his consort. This tradition attaches great importance to the sacred nature of texts (preserved on palm leaves) that recount the history of local deities.

A bow 2 to 3 metres long serves as a percussion instrument and rests on a terracotta pot (kutam). The string, to which small bells are attached, is struck by two singers using a pair of sticks; and the pot is struck by a musician with a large spatula. Three other percussionists and singers play a small hourglass-shaped drum (udukkai), small cymbals (jalra) and wooden claves (kattai).