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shehnai
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Bismillah Khan
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oboe
South Asian music
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shehnai
shehnai

shehnai

musical instrument
Also known as: śahnāī, shehʾnai
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
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History

shehnai, double-reed conical oboe of North India. The shehnai is made of wood, except for a flaring metal bell attached to the bottom of the instrument, and measures about 12–20 inches (30–50 cm) in length, with six to eight keyless finger holes along its body. Possessing a two-octave range, the shehnai is a difficult instrument to play, as the musician must master a wide range of finely nuanced embouchure and fingering techniques.

Like the nagaswaram of southern India, the shehnai is a descendent of the Persian surna and is played on auspicious occasions, such as weddings and temple festivities. Bismillah Khan, who introduced the shehnai to the concert stage, is one of the best-known performers on this instrument.