Svaraveena

Originally the name Veena was used in India for any kind of string instrument including different types of harps, zithers, and lutes. The SvaraVeena (for which the Kantele, a Finnish folk zither lent its shape and playing method) represents a whole class of ancient and folk string instruments that had an important place in sacred ceremonies, healing rituals, recitations as well as in the celebrations and beautification of life. Many of these first string instruments in different cultures share the same, often symbolically elaborated configuration of a number of strings (from 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 to 21, and more), enhanced through diverse ways of resonators. Each string stands for a single note without the possibility of altering the pitch through frets.