Nyastaranga

Nyastaranga (Beng.: throat trumpet), mirliton of NW. India, in shape of a small brass trumpet. Below the shallow cup mouthpiece is an aperture covered with a thin membrane (rice paper, etc.) leading to the main tube. A pair of these trumpets is placed against the vibrating throat chords of a humming performer. The sound is transferred to the membrane and the cavity of the tube reinforces it. Also called throat trumpet (89). Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th edition. London, 1954.