Come June-July, musicians around India start to worry that their instruments will need repair, thanks to the humidity in the air. Typically, humidity affects skin-top instruments, but climactic excesses equally impact other hand-crafted instruments. Consequently, the significance of instrument-makers cannot be ignored by musicians. Indeed, they form a vital part of a musician’s career. A good musician builds a relationship with a master craftsman, and normally, maintains a strong tie with him.

Sadly, there is no mention of these gifted people in the otherwise detailed bio-sketches of musicians. They often partner with musicians to create a rich tonal quality and to provide instruments with structural cohesiveness for better instrumental technique. Yet, musicians seem to enjoy the limelight for any evolution that instruments may have seen.

Today, let us listen to the voice of Vishnu Sutar, a well-known tabla maker.