Svaraa Handpan C# Kurd / Annaziska Embersteel

We have rarely held such resonant and sophisticated handpans in our hands. The Svaraa handpans are made with the aim of creating highly resonant instruments that sing poetic stories. Made in Delhi, the Svaraa handpans are the highest quality handpans from India. They have a magical and mystical aura. The sound is particularly touching and invites both players and listeners to immerse themselves in another world.

These Svaraa handpans are extremely well-balanced and professional musical instruments that are ideal for studio recordings and concerts. Their easy and versatile playability makes them equally suitable for ambitious beginners as well as experienced handpan players.

Under "About the manufacturer" you can also read the story of Abhinav Dheodar, the tuner and developer behind the Svaraa Handpans.

Svaraa Handpans made of Embersteel:

To manufacture the Svaraa stainless steel instruments, Abhinav Dheodar Ayasa uses bowls made of Embersteel - a special type of stainless steel. These are particularly resonant and have a fine sound. The long reverberation ensures a strong overtone richness and makes the whole instrument sing. This creates a versatile soundscape that is particularly inviting for melodic, meditative playing. This extremely mystical, spherical sound lets the player dive into other spheres and can lead to trance-like states.

Svaraa Handpans made from nitrided Ayasa Shells:

Ayasa shells are used for the nitrided Svaraa handpans. In the handpan scene, these are considered the best base material for making instruments from nitrided steel.

Nitrided steel is a heat-treated steel sheet into which nitrogen has been added. Nitrogen increases the rigidity of the material, making it harder and more stable against the strikes. This increases the tuning stability of the handpan and the player can enjoy the instrument for longer before it needs to be retuned. This type of material is initially used to make the first handpan drums and is then further developed by the handpan, pantam and sound sculpture makers.

Although handpans are now made of both nitrided steel and stainless steel, nitrided steel, the original material of the first handpans, still seems to have the greater demand among handpan enthusiasts. This type of material offers a medium sustain range, more ceramic and clay sound and high frequencies in the tones, making it good for outdoor playing. In addition, notes have a clearer and separated sound, which optimizes the Svaraa nitrided steel handpans for faster and more professional playing.

Pricing Svaraa Handpans:
Basic price for Classical Scales (Base-Note C3-G3), nitrated, 9 notes = 1990€
Basic price for Classical Scales (Base-Note C3-G3), Ember-Steel, 9 notes = 2190€
Basic price for Low Scales (Base-Note B2, A#2 or A2), Ember-Steel, 9 notes = 2350€
Base price for Super Low Scales (Base-Note G#2, G2, F#2, F2 and E2), Ember-Steel, 9 notes = 2650€

Each additional sound field +150€
Polished designs on the lower shell (only for stainless steel instruments) +120€

Custom-made Extended Handpans & Low Scales:

Abhinav Dheodar is one of the most versatile and experienced handpan makers in the world. He is one of the few instrument makers who has perfected the construction of complex instruments with up to 21 tonal fields and very low tunings with fundamental tones of E2, F#2 or F2. We cannot display his full range and variety of possible instruments in our online store. If you are interested in his extended handpans or very low tunings, please send us a separate inquiry.

The process of manufacturing these special instruments is much more time-consuming and risky than with conventional handpans. Production can therefore take up to three months and is much more expensive than conventional tunings.

Diameter: 53 cm
Height: 26cm
Weight: 4.2 kg
Material: Embersteel

Mood description: Kurd
Synonyms: Aeolian / Kurd with root note C# = "Annaziska"
Basic note sequence (8+1) : C#/ G# ABC# D# EF# G#
Effect : Warm - Mysterious - Dreamy
Tone range : Heptatonic

Mode :
Phrygian (tonal center 1st note) = major
or Aeolian (tonal center Ding ) = minor
Tone range: Heptatonic

Semitones : 7 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2- 3 - 2 - 2
Tonal center: DING or first tone

Mood description Kurd:

The Kurd tuning is, if you will, the natural minor variant of the handpan tunings. Due to its particularly harmonious composition of notes, it is particularly suitable for beginners. With it, you can play everything from calm and meditative to melancholic to powerful and cheerful, with a wide variety of styles.

Even though this mood can sound very sentimental, you can create cheerful sounds with it. For example, the second and third notes each produce a major triad. Just be aware that the second and third notes will be played at the same time. You can of course also consciously use this tension to spice up your playing and make the relaxation seem stronger afterwards. 

This tuning is one of the first seven-tone tunings that was built and has become very popular through some videos on the Internet.

Possible example tone sequences:

Basic 9-note sequence: C#/ G# ABC# D# EF# G#

Sequence with 10 notes: C#/ G# ABC# D# EF# G# (B)

Sequence with 11 notes: C#/ (F#) G# ABC# D# EF# G# (B)

12 note sequence: C#/ (EF#) G# ABC# (D) D# EF# G#

Sequence with 13 notes (as in the video): C#/ (EF#) G# ABC# (D) D# EF# (F) G#

Sequence of 14 notes: C#/ (EF#) G# ABC# (D) D# EF# (F) G# (B)

Sequence of 15 notes: C#/ (EF#) G# ABC# (D) D# EF# (F) G# (AB)

Sequence of 16 notes: C#/ (EF#) G# ABC# (D) D# EF# (F) G# (ABC#)

Sequence with 17 notes: C#/ (EF#) G# ABC# (D) D# EF# (F) G# (ABC# E)

* Bottom notes are additional tone fields on the bottom of the handpan and are written in round brackets e.g. (DE).

Mutant handpans have additional notes on the upper shell in the second row - between the chorus and the root note. Mutant notes are written in curly brackets, e.g. {DE}.

→ You can read a detailed article about Mutant & Bottom Note Handpans here: Blog post

→ Discover our full range of Mutant & Bottom Note Handpans here

We only list the standard layouts under "Possible note sequences". On request, our handpans can also be made with other notes and in other arrangements. Simply write an email with your request to: service@handpan.world

Origin and music theory of the Kurdish tuning:

Kurd takes the name of the Arabic/Turkish maqam Kurd. This selection of tones also shares the arrangement of the tones with this maqam if one assumes that the tonal center is on the first tone in the circle. This creates the complete Phrygian mode, which is characterized by a semitone step (semitone) from the root note to the second note of the scale and is responsible for the mysterious sound of the scale.

However, an ambivalence remains, as the DING is a fifth below the first note and thus acts like a second tonal center, which causes the mode to change to Aeolian (natural minor). Depending on the playing style, you can switch between natural minor and Phrygian sound character. With Kurd, you can play everything from calm and meditative to melancholic to powerful and cheerful, with a wide variety of styles.

Kurd shares with other minor variations (cf. Celtic Minor/ Integral) the jump of a fifth from the DING to the first tone. From this fifth step, assuming that the tonal center is the DING, one has all the tonal steps of a natural minor scale (Aeolian). A special feature of Kurd is the semitone step (semitone) between the first and second tone. This step is also present in the Maqam Kurd (Arabic or Turkish scale system) of the same name (cf. Semai Kurd), but also in the Phrygian mode. The Phrygian mode is used in jazz, psychedelic rock, flamenco and fado, but also in classical music. 

Suitable moods:
Very suitable for collaborative, improvisational playing:

• E Sabye (parallel key)
  
• E Major (parallel key)
  
• C# Celtic Minor / Amara
  
• F# Celtic Minor / Amara
• C# Aeolian
  
• Aegean
• C# Equinox
• C# Magic Voyage
• C# Integral
• C# Pygmy
  

Also good for composing together:

• G# or Ab Celtic Minor / Amara
• G# or Ab Hijaz
• B Kurd
• B Celtic Minor / Amara
  
• E Ragadesh

Hello dear handpan enthusiasts, I am Abhinav Dheodar - tuner and developer of the Svaraa handpans. I would like to tell you my story here.

On my musical journey, the art of building handpans caught my attention and never let go. Fascinated by the simplicity of the construction and the dynamic, complex sound of the handpan/pantam, it is my aim to build the most resonant instruments. It is more than a passion, it has become a way of life.

I discovered the handpan in 2008. Learning to make a handpan is a long and difficult road that demands a lot. But I never gave up and kept experimenting with the craft. It took five and a half years and numerous setbacks to hold the first perfect handpan in my hands. That was a special moment that still influences me today and shows me that dedication, passion and perseverance can create something special.

During my apprenticeship I did extensive research to deepen my understanding of materials, tuning, metal crafting and much more. I was lucky enough to spend very valuable time with and learn from some of the best handpan/pantam makers in the world in Russia, France, the Netherlands and the USA. It was a very long learning process and every day I learn something new about steel and its sound.
Today, my biggest goal is to develop the warmest and most sonorous instruments that can deeply touch a player and a listener alike.

Abhinav Deodhar - Tuner, Svaraa Handpans