This article brings out the combinatorial role of musical and material culture in the life of the Langas, a community of hereditary musicians from western Rajasthan (India). The struggle for identity on the one hand, and livelihood on the other, among Langa musicians, highlights the tension between continuity and change. While the preservation of traditional instruments and musical forms is vital for maintaining cultural identity, adapting to modern demands is necessary for survival. In this context, the materiality of their traditional instruments plays a crucial role, as it is through these tangible, inherited tools that their unique heritage and artistry are both expressed and sustained. Many of the hereditary instruments of the Langa community are on the verge of being overshadowed by popular musical instruments and global genres that are jeopardising the Langas’ connection to their hereditary music. Ironically, the Langas’ struggle for a secure present undermines the distinctiveness of their music in the future.
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