Sale of local musical instruments on the wane

Production of musical instruments by local craftsmen in Dhaka started to become popular from the early 20th century.

Factories and stores started to grow in the Old Town’s Tatibazar, Patuatuli, Shakharibazar, Ampotti. Later, Science Lab in the capital and Hrishipara of Narayanganj also became a hub for similar factories and stores. These stores later even started to export their instruments.

But this business has been struggling since the beginning of the 21st century with the gradual adoption of digital musical instruments, traders told Business Insider Bangladesh recently.

Importing music instruments from abroad and a trend of composing music without instruments are the reasons behind the current dull business for the local businessmen, said Sharjeet Mandal, owner of Jatin and Co.

“The golden days of the musical instrument business in the country are over,” he said.

Till the ‘90s, most of the songs were composed with local instruments. Harmonium, flute, tabla, aktara, dotara, dhol, krishnokathi, mridas, etc., are worth mentioning. These are still made by local craftsmen. But gradually, there has been an increase in the use of foreign instruments such as guitars, keyboards or drums.

Foreign instruments are easier to use, which is why the demand for local musical instruments has decreased. As a result, the local craftsmen are losing their work.

The prices of local guitars range from Tk2,000 to Tk 4,000, Indian and Chinese guitars from Tk 5,000 to Tk 12,000, electrical guitars from Tk 18,000 to Tk 60,000, harmoniums from Tk 9,000 to Tk 20,000, violins from Tk 3,000 to Tk 12,000 and drums from Tk 9,000 to Tk 15,000.

Though a good branded drum set costs from Tk 30,000 to Tk 80,000, a pair of tabla, either manual or electrical, costs from Tk 3,500 to Tk 10,000. A good quality keyboard of a renowned brand costs from Tk7,000 to Tk19,000.

Conversely, an aktara costs Tk300, a dotara Tk3,500, a flute Tk500, sitar Tk12,000, sikam Tk500, mandolin Tk5,000, trumpet Tk5,500, tanpura Tk11,000, and kahon costs Tk5,000.

The woes have doubled with shutdowns amid the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country since March 2020.

Musical instrument sellers and makers say their peak season for sales is usually during June-July, when students get admitted into music schools. But the shutdowns kept their businesses at bay this year.

“Music schools have remained closed and there are no events either. Prior to the shutdowns, we used to sell at least 25 harmoniums a month. But now it has come down to around five,” said Shubal Kumar of New Sangeeta.

“We usually get Tk2,000-3,000 as remuneration for making an instrument. But now, the sales have decreased drastically. So, our lives have become miserable with the steep fall of income, said Debu Sarkar, a craftsman.

“On the other hand, the store owners can hardly manage the expenses.”

Many of the store owners have taken loans to continue their business, but are now unable to repay those due to the sluggish business.