A shawm is a double-reed woodwind instrument, used extensively in European music from the late 13th century to the 17th. It was made in seven sizes, and usually made in one piece.
Shawms were used in court ceremonial music and in town bands. They are sometimes also referred to as “schalmeis.”
The shehnai an aerophonic instrument with six to nine playing holes that is thought to bring luck. It is a tube-like instrument that gradually widens towards the lower end. At one time the shehnai was one of the nine instruments associated with the ensembles of royal courts in India.
Today, it is still played in temples. This status has made it a necessary instrument in north Indian weddings and festivals.
