Percussion instruments, the names and descriptions of which are presented in this article, arose earlier than other musical instruments. They were used in ancient times by the peoples of the Middle East and the African continent to accompany warlike and religious dances and dances. Percussion instruments, the names of which are numerous, as well as their types, are very common these days, not a single ensemble can do without them. These include those in which the sound is produced with the help of a blow.

Classification

According to their musical qualities, that is, if it is possible to extract sounds of a particular pitch, all types of percussion instruments can be divided into 2 groups, the names of which are presented in this article: with an indefinite pitch (cymbals, drums, etc.) and with a certain pitch ( xylophone, timpani). They are also divided, depending on the type of vibrator (sounding body), into self-sounding (castanets, triangles, cymbals, etc.), plate (bells, vibrophones, xylophones, etc.) and membranous (tambourine, drums, timpani, etc.).

Now you know what types of percussion instruments exist. Let's say a few words about what determines the timbre and loudness of their sound.

What determines the volume and timbre of sound

Their sound volume is determined by the amplitude of vibrations of the sounding body, that is, by the force of the blow, as well as by the size of the sounding body. Amplification of sound in some instruments is achieved by adding resonators. The timbre that certain types of percussion instruments have depends on many factors. The main ones are the method of impact, the material from which the instrument is made, and the shape of the sounding body.

Webbed Percussion Instruments

The sounding body in them is a membrane or a stretched membrane. These include percussion instruments, the names of which are: tambourine, drums, timpani, etc.

Timpani

Timpani is an instrument with a certain pitch, which has a metal body in the shape of a cauldron. A membrane made of leather is stretched across the top of this cauldron. A special membrane made of polymeric materials is currently used as a membrane. It is fixed to the body with tensioning screws and a hoop. The screws located around the circumference are loosened or tightened. The timpani percussion instrument is tuned as follows: if you pull on the membrane, the pitch becomes higher, and if it is lowered, it will be lower. In order not to interfere with the membrane vibrating freely, there is a hole at the bottom for air movement. The body of this tool is made of brass, copper or aluminum. Timpani are installed on a tripod - a special stand.

This instrument is used in an orchestra in a set of 2, 3, 4 or more cauldrons of different sizes. The diameter of modern timpani is from 550 to 700 mm. There are the following types: pedal, mechanical and screw. Pedals are the most common, since you can tune the instrument to the desired key without interrupting your playing by pressing the pedal. In timpani, the sound volume is approximately equal to a fifth. Below all the others, a large timpani is tuned.

Tulumbas

Tulumbas is an ancient percussion instrument (timpani genus). It served in the 17th-18th century in the army, where it was used to signal alarms. It is a pot-shaped resonator in shape. This ancient percussion instrument (a kind of timpani) can be made of metal, clay or wood. From above it is covered with leather. This construction is beaten with wooden bats. A dull sound is produced, reminiscent of a cannon shot.

Drums

We continue to describe the percussion instruments, the names of which were listed at the beginning of the article. The drums have an indeterminate pitch. These include various percussion instruments. The names listed below all refer to drums (different varieties). There are big and small orchestral drums, big and small pop drums, as well as bongos, tom-bass and tom-tenor.

A large orchestral drum has a cylindrical body, covered with plastic or leather on both sides. It is characterized by a dull, low, powerful sound produced by a wooden mallet tipped with a felt or felt ball. For drum membranes, they have now begun to use polymer film instead of parchment leather. It has better musical and acoustic properties and higher durability. On drums, the membranes are secured with tensioning screws and two rims. The body of this instrument is made of plywood or sheet steel and covered with artistic celluloid. It has dimensions of 680x365 mm. The big pop drum has a construction and shape similar to the orchestral one. Its dimensions are 580x350 mm.

A small orchestral drum is a low cylinder covered with plastic or leather on both sides. The membranes (diaphragms) are fixed to the body with clamping screws and two rims. To give the instrument a specific sound, special strings or snare (spirals) are pulled over the lower membrane. They are driven by a dropping mechanism. The use of synthetic membranes in drums made it possible to significantly improve the reliability of operation, musical and acoustic characteristics, presentation and durability. Small orchestral drum measures 340x170 mm. He is included in the symphony and military brass bands. The small pop drum has a device similar to an orchestral one. Its dimensions are 356x118 mm.

The drums of tom-tom-bass and tom-tom-tenor do not differ in structure. They are used in pop drum kits. The tenor tom is attached to the bass drum with a bracket. Tom-tom-bass is installed on a special stand on the floor.

Bongs are small drums with plastic or leather stretched on one side. They are included in the percussion set. Bongs are interconnected with adapters.

As you can see, many percussion instruments are related to drums. The names listed above can be supplemented to include some less popular varieties.

Tambourine

A tambourine is a shell (hoop) with plastic or leather stretched on one side. Special slots are made in the body of the hoop. Brass plates are fixed in them, in appearance they are small orchestral cymbals. Inside the hoop, sometimes small rings, bells are strung on spirals or stretched strings. All this tinkles at the slightest touch of the tambourine, creating a special sound. The blows on the membrane are made with the palm of the right hand (its base) or with the tips of the fingers.

Tambourines are used to accompany songs and dances. In the East, the art of playing this instrument achieved virtuosity. Solo tambourine playing is also widespread here. Dyaf, def or gaval is an Azerbaijani tambourine, hawal or daf is Armenian, daira is Georgian, doira is Tajik and Uzbek.

Plate percussion instruments

Let's continue to describe percussion musical instruments. Photos and names of plate drums are presented below. Such instruments, which have a certain pitch, include a xylophone, a marimba (marimbaphone), a metallophone, bells, bells, vibraphone.

Xylophone

A xylophone is a collection of wooden blocks of various sizes that correspond to sounds of different heights. Bars are made from rosewood, spruce, walnut, maple. They are placed in parallel in 4 rows, following the order of the chromatic scale. These sticks are attached with sturdy laces and are also separated by springs. A cord passes through the holes made in the blocks. The xylophone for playing is laid out on a table on rubber share pads, which are located along the cords of this instrument. It is played with two wooden sticks with a thickening at the end. This instrument is used for playing in an orchestra or for solo playing.

Metallophone and marimba

The metallophone and marimba are also percussion musical instruments. Do the photos and their names tell you anything? We invite you to get to know them better.

A metallophone is a musical instrument similar to a xylophone, but its sound plates are made of metal (bronze or brass). His photo is presented below.

Marimba (marimbafon) is an instrument in which the sounding elements are wooden plates. It also has metal tubular resonators to amplify the sound.

Marimba has a juicy, soft timbre. The range of its sounding is 4 octaves. The playing plates of this instrument are made of rosewood. This ensures good musical and acoustic characteristics of this instrument. Plates are located in 2 rows on the frame. In the first row, there are basic tone plates, and in the second row, semitones. The resonators, installed in 2 rows on the frame, are tuned to the sounding frequency of the corresponding plates. A photo of this tool is presented below.

The main units of the marimba are fixed on the support trolley. The frame of this trolley is made of aluminum. This ensures sufficient strength and minimum weight. Marimba is used both for educational purposes and for professional play.

Vibraphone

This instrument is a set of aluminum plates, chromatically tuned, which are arranged in 2 rows, similar to a piano keyboard. Plates are installed on a high table (bed) and fastened with laces. Cylindrical resonators of a certain size are located in the center under each of them. They pass through them in the upper part of the axis, on which fan fans (impellers) are fixed. This is how vibration is achieved. The damper device has this tool. It is connected under the bed with a pedal so that you can mute the sound with your foot. The vibraphone is played with 2, 3, 4, and sometimes with a large number of long sticks with rubber balls at the ends. This instrument is used in a symphony orchestra, but more often in a variety or as a solo instrument. His photo is presented below.

Bells

Which percussion instruments can be played in the orchestra bell ringing? The correct answer is bells. It is a set of percussion instruments used in symphony and opera orchestras for this purpose. The bells consist of a set (12 to 18 pieces) of cylindrical tubes that are chromatically tuned. Usually chrome-plated steel pipes or nickel-plated brass pipes. Their diameter ranges from 25 to 38 mm. They are suspended on a special frame-stand, the height of which is about 2 m. A sound is made by striking the pipes of a wooden hammer. The bells are equipped with a special device (pedal-damper) for sound damping.

Bells

It is a percussion instrument consisting of 23-25 ​​metal plates, tuned chromatically. They are placed in steps in 2 rows on a flat box. The top row corresponds to the black piano keys, and the bottom row corresponds to the white ones.

Self-sounding percussion instruments

Talking about what percussion instruments are (names and types), one cannot fail to mention self-sounding percussion. This type includes the following instruments: cymbals, tam-tams, triangles, rattles, maracas, castanets, etc.

Dishes

Cymbals are metal discs made of nickel silver or brass. A somewhat spherical shape is given to the cymbal discs. Leather straps are attached to the center. A continuous ringing sound is made when they hit each other. Sometimes they use one plate. Then the sound is produced by hitting a metal brush or stick. Orchestral cymbals, gong cymbals and charleston cymbals are produced. They sound ringing, sharp.

Let's talk about what other percussion instruments are. Photos with names and descriptions will help you get to know them better.

Orchestral triangle

The orchestral triangle (its photo is presented below) is a steel bar of an open triangular shape. This instrument is suspended freely when played and then struck with a metal stick, while performing various rhythmic patterns. A ringing, bright sound has a triangle. It is used in various ensembles and orchestras. Triangles are produced with two sticks made of steel.

A gong or there-there is a bronze disc with curved edges. A felt-tipped mallet is struck at its center. It turns out a gloomy, thick and deep sound, reaching full strength gradually, not immediately after the impact.

Castanets and maracas

Castanets (a photo of them is presented below) is a folk instrument of Spain. This ancient percussion instrument is shaped like shells tied with a cord. One of them is facing the spherical (concave) side to the other. They are made from plastic or hardwood. Castanets are available as single or double.

Maracas are balls made of plastic or wood, filled with shot (a small number of pieces of metal) and decorated colorfully on the outside. They are equipped with a handle to make them comfortable to hold while playing. Various rhythmic patterns can be played by shaking the maracas. They are used mainly in pop ensembles, but sometimes in orchestras.

Rattles are sets of small plates fixed on a wooden plate.

These are the main names for percussion musical instruments. Of course, there are many more of them. We talked about the most famous and popular ones.

Drum set that a pop ensemble has

In order to have a complete understanding of this group of instruments, you must also know the composition of the drum kits (setups). The most common line-up is the following: big and small drum, big and small single cymbal, twin hay-hat (Charleston) cymbals, bongos, tom-tom alto, tom-tom tenor and tom-tom-bass.

On the floor in front of the performer, a large drum is installed, which has support legs for stability. On top of the drum, tom-tom alto and tom-tenor drums can be fixed using brackets. It also has an additional stand on which the orchestral cymbal is fixed. The tom-tom alto and tom-tom tenor brackets on the big drum adjust their height.

The mechanical pedal is an integral part of the kick drum. The performer uses it to extract sound from this musical instrument. Necessarily included in the composition drum kit small pop drum. It is fastened with three clamps on a special stand: one retractable and two folding ones. The stand is installed on the floor. This is a stand, which is equipped with a locking device for fixing in a certain position, as well as changing the tilt of the snare drum.

The snare drum has a muffler and a dump device, which are used to adjust the tone. Also, the drum kit sometimes includes several tenor tom-tom, alto tom-tom and drum tom-tom, of different sizes.

Also the drum kit (its photo is presented below) includes orchestral cymbals with a stand, a chair and a mechanical stand for the "Charleston". Maracas, triangles, castanets and other noise instruments are accompanying instruments of this setup.

Spare parts and accessories

Replacement accessories and parts for percussion instruments include: stands for orchestral cymbals, snare drum, Charleston cymbals, timpani sticks, mechanical drum beater (big drum), snare drum sticks, pop drum sticks, orchestral brushes, beaters, etc. leather for a bass drum, belts, cases.

Percussion keyboard instruments

Distinguish between percussion keyboard and percussion instruments. Percussion keyboards include a piano and a grand piano. The strings of the piano are horizontal, struck by a hammer from bottom to top. The piano differs in that the hammer strikes in the direction from the musician on the strings forward. In this case, the strings are stretched in a vertical plane. Grand pianos and pianos, due to the richness of sounds in terms of sound power and pitch, as well as the great possibilities of these instruments, have received a common name. Both the one and the other instrument can be called in one word - "piano". The piano is a stringed percussion instrument in the way of sound extraction.

The keyboard mechanism, which is used in it, is a system of levers interconnected, which serves to transfer the energy of the pianist's fingers to the strings. It consists of a mechanic and a keyboard. A keyboard is a set of keys, the number of which can be different depending on the sound range of a particular instrument. The keys are usually lined with plastic overlays. Then they are pins mounted on the keyboard frame. Each of the keys has lead seals, a pilot, a capsule and an escutcheon. It transfers, as a lever of the first kind, the effort of the pianist to the figure of the mechanic. Mechanics are hammer mechanisms that convert the effort of a musician when pressing a key into striking the strings of hammers. Hammers are made of hornbeam or maple, they are wrapped around their head with felt.

Drums are the most numerous family of musical instruments today. Sound from this type of instrument is produced by striking the surface of the sounding body. The sound body can take many forms and be made from a variety of materials. In addition, shaking is allowed instead of striking - in fact, indirect strikes with sticks, hammers or mallets on the same sounding body.

The history of the appearance of the first percussion instruments

Percussion instruments are among the most ancient. The first prototype of a percussion instrument appeared when primitive people striking a stone on a stone, they created a kind of rhythm for ritual dances or just in everyday household chores (crushing nuts, grinding grain, etc.).

In fact, any device that produces measured noises can be called a percussion instrument. At first, these were stones or sticks, boards. Later, the idea of ​​tapping out a rhythm on the skin stretched over a hollow body appeared - the first drums.

During the excavation of the places of settlement of the tribes of Central Africa and the Far East, archaeologists have found already more similar to more modern samples Obviously, it was they who at one time served as an example for the creation of European percussion instruments.

Functional features of percussion instruments

The sound produced by percussion instruments is derived from primitive rhythmic melodies. Tinkling and tinkling prototypes of modern percussion musical instruments were used during ritual dances by the peoples of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, and the countries of Asia.

But the representatives of the ancient Arab states used percussion instruments, in particular drums, in military campaigns. This tradition was adopted by European peoples much later. Melodiously not rich, but loud and rhythmic, the drums became the constant accompaniment of military marches and hymns.

And in the orchestra, percussion instruments have found a fairly widespread use. At first, they were denied access to European academic music. Percussion gradually found its use in dramatic music within the framework of opera and ballet orchestras, and only then did they get into symphony orchestras. But today it is difficult to imagine an orchestra without drums, timpani, cymbals, tambourine, tambourine or triangle.

Percussion instrument classification

The group of percussion musical instruments is not only numerous, but also very unstable. Several different ways of classifying them have been developed, so one and the same tool can belong to several subgroups at once.

The most common percussion instruments today are timpani, vibraphone, xylophone; various types of drums, tambourines, an African drum there and there, as well as a triangle, cymbals, and many others.

- musical instruments, the sound of which is produced by a blow (with hands, sticks, hammers, etc.) on the body, becomes its source. The largest and most ancient family of all musical instruments. Sometimes percussion musical instruments are called by the word percussion(from the English. percussion ).

The percussion musician is called drummer or percussionist, in rock and jazz groups - also drummer.

1. Classification

Depending on the sound source, percussion instruments can be:

An exotic percussion instrument came from the western regions of Ukraine to other regions of the republic, for a specific color of sound it is called a bull. In a small cone-shaped shell, the upper opening is covered with leather. A bundle of horsehair is attached to it in the center. The musician pulls his hair with his hands moistened with kvass and produces persistent chord sounds.

4. Multimedia

Sources of

• Concise Dictionary of Music, Moscow, 1966
• Anthem to the art of drumming (Rus.)
• Percussion musical instruments (Rus.)

Literature

• A. Andreeva. Percussion instruments of a modern symphony orchestra. - К .: "Musical Ukraine", 1985
• A.Panaiotov. Percussion instruments in a modern orchestra. M, 1973
• E. Denisov. Percussion instruments in a modern orchestra. M, 1982

? ? Percussion musical instruments A certain pitch

ETHNIC DRUMS OF THE WORLD

To hear the sound of drums, turn on Flash Player!

By region of origin	Cup-shaped drums and hourglass-shaped		Cylindrical drums and tapered drums
	Barrel drums		Idiophones (percussion without membrane)

(open the map in full size)

Ethnic drums are a real find for those who want to feel the freedom of self-expression and feel a surge of strength and energy. In addition, the unusualness of ethnic instruments lies in their distinctive, memorable sound, and they will also add ethnic flavor to any interior and you will definitely not be left without attention. Most of these drums need to be played with your hands, so hand drums are also called percussion from the Latin word perka-ruka.

Ethnic drums are for those who are looking for new sensations and states. Most importantly, you don't have to be a professional musician, because drums are easy to learn and don't require any special musical talent. In addition to skill and unlimited desire, nothing else is required from you!

Drums appeared at the dawn of human history. During excavations in Mesopotamia, some of the oldest percussion instruments were found - made in the form of small cylinders, the origin of which dates back to the sixth millennium BC. The drum found in Moravia dates back to the fifth millennium BC. NS. In ancient Egypt, drums appeared in four thousand years BC. NS. It is known about the existence of drums in ancient Sumer (about three thousand years BC). Since ancient times, the drum has been used as a signal instrument, as well as to accompany ritual dances, military processions, and religious ceremonies.

The symbolic meaning of the drum is close to the semantics of the heart. Like most musical instruments, it is endowed with the function of mediating between earth and sky. The drum is closely related to the tambourine, which can be either primary in relation to the drum, or derived from it. In the mythology of the Mongolian peoples, the tambourine appeared as a result of the division of the drum by Dannom Derkhe, a shamanic deity, into two halves. But more often the drum is seen as a fusion of opposite principles: female and male, lunar and solar, earthly and heavenly, personified by two tambourines. In many cultures, the drum is functionally likened to the sacrificial altar and is associated with the world tree (drums were made from the wood of sacred tree species). Additional meaning within the general symbolism is due to the shape of the drum. In Shaivism, a double drum is used, which is considered a means of communication with the deity Shiva, as well as an attribute of the latter. This drum, shaped like an hourglass and called damara, symbolizes the opposition and interconnection of the heavenly and earthly worlds. When the drum rotates, two balls hanging on the cords hit its surface.

In shamanistic cults, the drum is used as a way to achieve an ecstatic state. In Tibetan Buddhism, one of the rites of passage involves dancing to the accompaniment of a drum made of skulls. The drum of Sami shamans - kobdas, on which various images of a sacred nature are drawn, is used for fortune-telling (under the blows of a hammer, a special triangle placed on the drum moves from one image to another, and its movements are interpreted by the shaman as answers to questions.

Among the ancient Greeks and Romans, the tympanum drum, the predecessor of the modern timpani, was used in the cults of Cybele and Bacchus. In Africa, among many peoples, the drum also acquired the status of a symbol of royal power.

Drums are extremely popular all over the world today and come in a wide variety of forms. Some traditional drums have long been used in pop practice. These are, first of all, all kinds of Latin American instruments: bongos, congas, etc. Relatively recently, the most important oriental drums and drums of Africa appeared in the instrumentation of pop, ethnic and medieval musical groups - respectively, darbuka (or its bass version of dumbek) and djembe. The peculiarity of these instruments is that they can produce sounds of a wide variety of timbre colors. This is especially true for darbuka. The masters of the game are able to extract many different sounds from the oriental drum - darbuks and, thus, compete with the whole drum kit. Usually, the technique on these instruments is taught by the bearers of the tradition, and the mastery of the material is exclusively by ear: the student repeats all kinds of rhythmic patterns after the teacher.

The main functions of ethnic drums:

• Ritual. Since ancient times, drums have been used in various mysteries, since a continuous monotonous rhythm can lead to a trance state (see article The mysticism of sound.). In some traditions, the drum was used as a palace instrument for special occasions.
• Military. Drum combat is able to raise morale and intimidate the enemy. The military use of drums is recorded in ancient Egyptian chronicles in the 16th century BC. In Switzerland, and later throughout Europe, military drums were also used to build troops and parades.
• Medical. For medicinal purposes, drums were used to exorcise evil spirits. A number of traditions are known in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. To a fast drumbeat, the patient had to perform a special dance, which resulted in a cure. According to current research, drumming helps relieve stress and release the hormone of joy (see article Healing rhythms).
• Communication... Talking drums, as well as a number of other drums in Africa, were used to transmit messages over long distances.
• Organizational. In Japan, the taiko drum determined the size of the territory belonging to a given village. It is known that among the Tuaregs and some other peoples of Africa, the drum was the personification of the power of the leader.
• Dance... Drum rhythm has traditionally been the basis for many of the world's dances. This function is closely related to and derives from ritual as well as medical use. Many dances were originally part of the temple mysteries.
• Musical. In the modern world, drumming technique has reached a high level, and music has ceased to be used exclusively for ritual purposes. Ancient drums have become part of the arsenal of modern music.

You can read more about the various drumming traditions in the article Drums of the World .

Middle Eastern, North African and Turkish drums

Listen to Rick's solo

Bendir (Bendir)

Bendir- the drum of northern Africa (Maghreb), especially the Eastern Berber region. It is a frame drum made of wood and covered with animal skin on one side. On the inner surface of the bendir membrane, strings are usually attached, which create additional vibration in the sound when struck. The best sound comes from a bendir with a very thin membrane and fairly strong strings. Algerian and Moroccan orchestras performing both modern and traditional musical forms... Unlike dafa, bendir lacks rings on the back of the membrane.

Talking about the rhythms and instruments of North Africa, one cannot fail to mention another curious tradition, namely the group clapping of hands. For tourists, this tradition seems, to put it mildly, unusual, but for the residents of the Maghreb themselves there is nothing more familiar than to get together and start clapping their hands, creating a certain rhythm. Secret correct sound when clapping is in the position of the palms. It is rather difficult to describe it, but the locals themselves say that when you hit, you need to feel like you are holding the air with both hands. The movement of the hands itself is also important - absolutely free and relaxed. Similar traditions can also be found in Spain, India and Cuba.

Play a solo in Moroccan bendier

Tarija ( Tarija).

Small ceramic goblet drum with venison leather and string inside. Known since at least the 19th century, used in Morocco in ensembles Malhun to accompany the vocal part. The singer plays the main rhythm with his palm to control the rhythm and tempo of the orchestra. The end of the song can be used to enhance the energy and rhythmic ending.

Listen to the Moroccan ensemble Malhoun with tarija

T oubeleki, toymbeleki ).

A Greek variety of darbuka with an amphora-shaped body. Used to perform Greek melodies in Thrace, Greek Macedonia and the Aegean islands. The body is made of clay or metal. You can also buy this type of drum at Savvas Percusion or Evgeny Strelnikov. The bass of the tobeleki from the darbuka is distinguished by a greater boomy and softness of sound.

Listen to the sound of Toubeleki (Savvas)

Tavlak ( Tavlak).

Tavlak (tavlyak) is a small Tajik ceramic cup-shaped drum (20-400 mm). Tavlak is mainly an ensemble instrument, used in conjunction with a doira or daf. The tawlaka sound, in contrast to the darbuka, is more drawn out, with a wah effect more characteristic of doira or Indian percussion. Tavlyak is especially popular in the Khatol region of Tajikistan, bordering Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, where it can be used as a solo instrument.

Listen to the rhythms of the Tajik tavlyak

Zerbakhali ( Zer-baghali, Zerbaghali, Zir-baghali, Zirbaghali, Zerbalim ).

Zerbakhali is a goblet Afghan drum. The body was made either of wood, like the Iranian tonbak, or of clay. The membrane in the early samples contained an additional pad, similar to Indian tabs, which gave the vibrato sound. The technique of playing which is something close, on the one hand, to the technique of playing in Persian tonbak(toneback), and on the other hand, the technique of playing the Indian tablé (tabla). From time to time, various techniques are also inserted, borrowed from darbuki... Indian tabla especially influenced the craftsmen from Kabul. It can be considered that the zerbakhali is an Indo-Persian musical instrument of Persian origin. The rhythms and technique of zerbakhali were influenced by Persia and India, and before the war, it used sophisticated finger technique and over-filled rhythms, which later became the main feature of Turkish percussion. At the beginning of the 20th century, the instrument was used in Herat, later in the 50s it became widely used in Afghan music together with the dutar and the Indian rubab. In the 70s, women performers appeared on this drum, before that they played only on the frame.

Listen to zerbakhali performances of the 70s

Kshishba ( Khishba, Kasour (slightly wider), Zahbor or Zenboor).

These drums are used mainly in the countries of the Persian Gulf in the music of Choubi and the dance direction Kawleeya (Iraq, Basra). Narrow tubular drum with wooden body and fish skin membrane. The skin is taut and hydrated for a vibrant sound.

Listen to the sound of kshishba (sometimes darbuka enters)

Tobol

Tobol is the drum of the Tuareg. Tuaregs are the only people in the world whose men, even in a domestic circle, are obliged to cover their faces with a bandage (self-name - "the people of the veil"). They live in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Algeria and Libya. Tuaregs preserve tribal division and significant elements of the patriarchal system: the people are divided into "drum" groups, each headed by a leader, whose power is symbolized by a drum. And above all the groups is the leader, the amenokal.

The famous French researcher A. Lot wrote about the Tobol - a drum symbolizing the leader among the Tuaregs: “He is the personification of power among the Tuaregs, and sometimes the amenokala itself (the title of the leader of the tribal union) is called Tobol, like all the tribes under his patronage. Piercing a tobol is the most terrible insult that can be inflicted on a leader, and if the enemy manages to steal him, then irreparable damage will be inflicted on the prestige of the amenokal.

Davul (Davul)

Davul- a drum common among the Kurds, in Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania. On the one hand, it has a membrane made of goatskin for bass, on which they beat with a special hard, on the other side, sheepskin is stretched, on which they beat with a twig, producing a high, whipping sound. Nowadays, membranes are made of plastic. Sometimes they hit the wooden body with a stick. In the Balkans and Turkey, the rhythms for dawul are quite complex, like the rules for odd rhythms and syncopation. In our studio we use davul for street performances and for setting a sense of rhythm.

Listen to the sound of davul

Kosh ( Kosh)

In the XV-XVI centuries, there were free lands in Zaporozhye. There have long been settled risky people who want freedom from different rulers. This is how the Zaporozhye Cossacks gradually arose. Initially, these were small bands of dashing people who hunted for raids and robbery. Moreover, the group-forming factor was the cooking pot, called "kosh". Hence the "koshevoy ataman" - in fact, the most powerful robber, distributing rations. How many people could feed from such a cauldron, so many sabers were in the koshe-band.

Cossacks moved on horses or on ships - boats. Their life was ascetic and minimized. You were not supposed to take unnecessary things with you on a raid. Therefore, the poor property was multifunctional. The most interesting thing: this very kosh-cauldron, after a hearty supper, easily and simply turned into a drum-tulumbas, a kind of timpani.

On the eaten clean cauldron, with the help of ropes, the skin of the animal that was cooked in it for dinner was pulled. During the night by the fire, the tulumbas dried up, and by the morning a battle drum was obtained, with the help of which signals were sent to the army and communication with other koshas was carried out. On boats, such a drum ensured the well-coordinated actions of the rowers. Later, the same tulumbases were used on watchtowers-towers along the Dnieper. With their help, a signal about the approach of the enemy was transmitted over the relay. The appearance and use of a tulumbas-boiler.

Similar drum Kus Is a large Persian cauldron drum. It is a pair of drums made of clay, wood or metal in the shape of a hemispherical cauldron with leather stretched over it. The kus was played with leather or wooden sticks (leather sticks were called daval - gave). Usually the cous was worn on the back of a horse, camel or elephant. It was used during festive events, military marches. He also often performed as an accompaniment to karnay (karnay - Persian trumpet). Persian epic poets mentioned kus and karnai when describing the battles of the past. Also, on many ancient Persian canvases, you can see images of kus and karnay. Scientists attribute the appearance of these musical instruments to the 6th century. BC.

Cossacks Zaporizhzhya Sich used to control the army of tulumbasa different sizes... A small one was tied to the saddle, the sound was produced by the handle of the whip. The largest of the tulumbas was simultaneously beaten by eight people. Loud single sounds of the alarm together with the rumble of tulumbases and shrill rattles of tambourines were used for intimidation. This tool has not received significant distribution among the people.

(Krakeb)

or in another way kakabu- Maghreb national musical instrument. Krakeb is a pair of metal spoons with two ends. When playing, a pair of such "spoons" is held in each hand, so that with mutual collision of each pair, fast, pulsating sounds are obtained, creating a colorful ornament for the rhythm.

Krakeb are the main component of Gnaua's rhythmic music. It is used mainly in Algeria and Morocco. There is a legend that the sound of cracks resembles the clang of metal chains, in which slaves from West Africa walked.

Listen to the music of Gnava with Krakebs

Persian, Caucasian and Central Asian drums

Daph (Daf, Dap)

Daph- one of the oldest frame percussion instruments, about which there are many folk tales. The time of its appearance corresponds to the time of the appearance of poetry. For example, in Tourat it is said that it is Tavil - the son of Lamak invented the daf. And also, when it comes to the wedding of Solomon with Belkis, it is mentioned that Daf sounded on their wedding night. Imam Mohamad Kazali wrote that the Prophet Mohammad said: "Spread the barak and play loudly on the dafa." These testimonies speak of the spiritual value of Dafa.

Ahmed bin Mohammad Altavusi writes about the relationship of Dafa with the player and the manner of playing the Dafa: "The Dafa circle is the Akvan circle (being, the world, all that exists, the universe) and the skin that is stretched over it is absolute existence, and a blow into it is the entry of divine inspiration, which is transferred from the heart, inner and innermost, to absolute being. And the breath of the player playing the dafa is a reminder of the degree of God, when his appeal to people, their soul in captivity of love, will endear him. "

In Iran, Sufis used daf for ritual ceremonies (dhikr). IN last years Iranian musicians successfully began to use the oriental drum - daf in modern Persian pop music. Nowadays, daf is very popular among Iranian women - they play and sing on it. Sometimes women from Iran's Kurdistan provinces gather in huge groups to play the dafa together, which is analogous to collective prayer with the help of music.

Listen to the sound of dafa

Tonbak ( Tonbak)

Tonbak(tombak) - Iranian traditional percussion instrument (drum) in the form of a goblet. There are various versions of the origin of the name of this instrument. According to the main one - the name is a combination of the names of the main strokes Tom and bak. Let's talk about the nuances of writing and pronunciation right away. In Persian, the combination of letters "nb" is pronounced as "m". Hence the discrepancy in the names "tonbak" and "tombak". Interestingly, even in Farsi, you can find a record equivalent to the pronunciation of "tombak". However, it is considered correct to write "tonbak" and to pronounce "tombak". According to another version, tonbak comes from the word tonb, which literally means "belly". Indeed, the tonbak has a convex shape similar to the belly. Although, of course, the first version is more generally accepted. The rest of the names (tombak / donbak / dombak) are variations of the original. Another name - zarb - is of Arabic origin (most likely from the word darab, which means the sound of a drum hit). Play tonbake with your fingers, which is typical of percussion in general oriental origin... The sound of the instrument, due to the not too strong tension of the skin and the specific shape of the body, is rich in timbre shades, filled with incomparable depth and density of bass.

The technique of playing tombak distinguishes it from a huge number of drums of this type: it is very sophisticated and is characterized by a variety of performance techniques and their combinations. Play the tombak with both hands, placing the instrument in an almost horizontal position. Achieving the desired sonic paint depends, at a minimum, on the area of ​​the instrument being hit and whether the strike is made with your fingers or brush, flicking or sliding.

Listen to the sound of tonbak

Doira)

(translated as a circle) - a tambourine, common on the territory of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan. Consists of a round shell and a membrane with a diameter of 360-450 mm tightly stretched on one side. Metal rings are attached to the shell, the number of which ranges from 54 to 64, depending on its diameter. Previously, the shell was made from fruit plants - dry vines, walnut or beech trees. Now it is made mainly from acacia. The membrane used to be made of catfish skin, goat skin, sometimes the stomach of an animal, now the membrane is made of thick calf skin. Before playing, the doira is heated in the sun by a fire or a lamp to tighten the membrane, which contributes to the clarity and sonority of the sound. Metal hoops on the shell increase the thermal conductivity when heated. The membrane is so strong that it can withstand a person jumping on it and a knife blow. Initially, the doira was a purely female instrument, the women gathered and sat singing and playing the doira, just as Iranian women gathered and played the dafs. Currently, the skill of playing the doira has reached an unprecedented level. Such doira masters as Abos Kasimov from Uzbekistan, Khairullo Dadoboev from Tajikistan are known in the world. The sound is produced by striking 4 fingers of both hands (the thumbs are used to support the instrument) and palms on the membrane. A blow to the middle of the membrane gives a low and dull sound, a blow near the shell produces a higher and more sonorous sound. The ringing of metal pendants joins the main sound. The difference in the color of the sound is achieved due to various techniques of playing: blows of fingers and palms of different strengths, clicks of little fingers (nohun), sliding of fingers on the membrane, shaking the instrument, etc. Tremolo, grace notes are possible. Dynamic shades range from gentle piano to powerful forte. The technique of playing the doira, developed over the centuries, has reached high virtuosity. Doira is played (amateurs and professionals) solo, accompanying singing and dancing, as well as in ensembles. The doira's repertoire is made up of various rhythmic figures - usuli. Doira is used when performing makoms, mugams. In modern times, doira is often a member of folk and sometimes symphony orchestras.

Listen to the sound of doira

Gaval ( Gaval)

Gaval- Azerbaijani tambourine, closely related to traditions, everyday life and ceremonies. Currently, a number of musical genres, folk performances and games are played with the accompaniment of the gaval. Currently, the gaval is a member of ensembles, including folk instrumental and symphony orchestras.

As a rule, the diameter of the gaval round shell is 340 - 400 mm, and the width is 40 - 60 mm. The wooden hoop of the gaval is cut from the trunks of hard trees, it is smooth on the outside, and has a conical shape on the inside. The main material for making a wooden hoop is grape, mulberry, walnut, red oak. An inlaid ornament made of marble, bones of other materials is applied to the surface of the round shell. From the inside of the wooden hoop, from 60 to 70 bronze or copper rings are fastened into small holes with the help of clubs and often four copper bells. The clubs, visible on the outside of the wooden hoop, are gently glued with leather. Recently, in Iran, gaval has been made from pistachio wood. This makes it difficult for Hananda to perform in the gaval.

Typically, the membrane is made from lamb, kid, gazelle or bovine bladder skin. In fact, the membrane must be made from fish skin. Now, during the development of technology, artificial leather and plastic are also used. Fish leather is produced using special tanning. Professional performers, one might say, do not use gaval from the skin of other animals, because fish skin is transparent, thin and very sensitive to temperature changes. Most likely, the performer, touching the gaval or pressing it to the chest, warms the instrument and as a result, the sound quality of the gaval is significantly improved. Shaking the metal and copper rings hanging from the inside of the instrument and hitting it produces a double sound. The hoarse sound emanating from the membrane of the instrument and from the rings inside takes on a unique sound.

The technique of playing the gaval has the broadest possibilities. Sound production is performed using the fingers of the right and left hands and blows reproduced by the inner side of the palms. Gaval should be used very carefully, skillfully, with a creative approach, observing certain precautions. When performing gaval, the soloist should try not to tire the listener with awkward and unpleasant sound. With the help of gaval, you can get the desired dynamic tone of sound.

Gaval is a must-see instrument for performers of traditional genres of Azerbaijani music such as tesnif and mugam. Mugam in Azerbaijan is usually performed by a trio of sazandars: tarist, kemanchist and gavalist. The structure of the mugam dyastgah is such that the mugham dyastgah includes several ryangvas, daramyads, tasnifs, dirings, melodies, and folk songs. The khanende (singer) himself is often a gavalist at the same time. At present, Mahmud Salah is the full master of the instrument.

Hear the sound of the gaval

Nagarra, cover ( Nagarra)

There is a wide variety of instruments called nagarra: they are common in Egypt, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia and India. In translation, nagara means "tapping", comes from the Arabic verb naqr - to hit, knock. Nagara, which has powerful sound dynamics, allows you to extract a variety of timbre tones from it, and it can also be played outdoors. Nagarra is usually played with sticks, but you can also play with your fingers. Its body is made of walnut, apricot, and other types of trees, and the membrane is made of sheep skin. Height 350-360 mm, diameter 300-310 mm. Depending on their size, they are called kyos nagara., Bala nagara (or chyure N.) and kichik nagara, that is, large, medium and small drum. Gosha-nagara resembles in structure, two cauldron drums fastened together. Also in Azerbaijan there is a kettle-shaped drum called "timplipito", which outwardly resembles two small drums fastened together. The gosha-nagar is played with two wooden sticks, which are made mainly of dogwood. The word Gosha-nagara literally translated from the Azerbaijani language means "a pair of drums". The word "gosha" means - a pair.

Initially, the body of gosha-nagara was made of clay, then it began to be made of wood and metal. For the manufacture of the membrane, calf, goat, rarely camel skin is used. The diaphragm is screwed to the body with metal screws, which also serve to adjust the instrument. They play the gosha-nagar, placing it on the floor or on a special table, in some traditions there is a special profession: the holder of the nagar, which is trusted by short boys. Gosha-nagara is an obligatory attribute of all ensembles and orchestras of folk instruments, as well as weddings and celebrations.

The poet Nizami Ganjavi described the "nagara" as follows:
“Coşdu qurd gönünden olan nağara, Dünyanın beynini getirdi zara” (which literally means “The soot of wolf skin got agitated by the noise of everyone in the world”). Guide to Turkish Nagarras (PDF) In the Russian tradition, such drums were called nakras. The covers were small in size and had a pot-shaped earthen (ceramic) or copper body. Over this body, with the help of strong ropes, a leather membrane was stretched, on which blows were struck with special, weighty and thick, wooden sticks. The depth of the tool was slightly deeper than its diameter. In the old days, nakry, together with some other percussion and wind instruments, were used as a military musical instrument, leading the enemy into panic confusion and disorderly flight. The main function of military percussion instruments is the rhythmic accompaniment of the troops. Fastening of the cover was carried out by the following methods: throwing a war horse over the saddle; fastening to the waist belt; attachments to the back of the person in front. Sometimes, the covers were fastened to the ground, which led to a gradual increase in size and transformation into modern timpani. Later, nakra began to appear in medieval orchestras. The musician playing the medieval nakrach - the so-called "court nakrach", existed in Russia as early as the 18th century of the new era.

Listen to the sound of nagarra

Caucasian double-sided drum, common in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan. One of the membranes is thicker than the other. The body is made of metal or wood. The sound is produced with hands or with two wooden sticks similar to the Turkish davul - thick and thin. Earlier it was used in military campaigns, now it is used in an ensemble with zurnas, it accompanies dances, processions.

Hear the sound of dhol

Kayrok)

... These are two pairs of flat polished stones, a kind of analogue of castanets. Inherent in most of the inhabitants of Khorezm (Uzbekistan, Afghanistan). As a rule, he was accompanied by cat- a tool made of mulberry, apricot or juniper wood, resembling two pairs of spoons. Today the cat is practically out of use and is used only at national celebrations more as a symbol. Literally kairok is a whetstone in Uzbek. This is a special, slate rock, black stone. Has a high density. They are found on the banks of rivers. It is desirable to have an elongated shape. Then they wait for one of the neighbors to play a toy (wedding). This means that the shurpa will slowly cook over the fire for three days. The stone is thoroughly washed, wrapped in a snow-white gauze cloth, and in the shurpa itself, with the consent of the host, is lowered. After three days, the stone acquires the desired properties. Stones in the families of knifemakers are passed down from generation to generation.

Listen to the sound of kairok performed by Aboss Kasimov

Indian drums

The name of Indian tabla drums is very similar to the name of the Egyptian Tabla drum, which means "membrane" in Arabic. Although the very name "tabla" is foreign, this does not refer to the instrument in any way: there are ancient Indian reliefs depicting such pairs of drums, and even in "Natyashastra" - a text almost two thousand years ago - it is mentioned about river sand of a certain quality, which is part of the paste to cover the membrane.

There is a legend about the birth of the Tabla. During Akbar's time (1556-1605), there were two professional performers in Pakhawaj. They were bitter rivals and constantly competed with each other. Once, in a hot battle of a drum competition, one of the rivals, Sudhar Khan, was defeated and, unable to bear his bitterness, threw his Pakhawaj down to the ground. The drum shattered into two parts, which became tabla and dagga.

The big drum is called bayan, the small one is called daina.

The membrane is not made from a single piece of leather; it consists of a round piece that is glued to a leather ring. Thus, in the tabla, the membrane consists of two pieces of skin. The ring-shaped piece, in turn, is attached to a leather hoop or cord surrounding the membrane, and straps are threaded through this cord that attach the membrane (pudi) to the body. A thin layer of paste is applied to the inner membrane, made from a mixture of iron and manganese sawdust, rice or wheat flour and a sticky substance. This covering, which is black, is called syahi.

All this technique of attaching and stretching the skin not only affects the sound quality, making it less "noisy" and more musical, but also allows you to adjust the pitch. On the scoreboard, a sound of a certain height can be achieved either by vertical movements of small wooden cylinders with significant changes in height, or by tapping with special hammers on a leather hoop.

There are several gharans (schools) of the tabla, the most famous are six of them: Ajrara gharana, Benares gharana, Delhi gharana, Farukhabad gharana, Lucknow gharana, Punjab gharana.

One of the most famous musicians who made this instrument famous all over the world is the legendary Indian musician Zakir Hussein.

Listen to the sound of the tabla

mrdanga)

, mrdanga, (Sanskrit - mrdanga, Dravidian forms - mrdangam, mrdangam) - South Indian two-membrane drum in the shape of a barrel. According to the Indian classification of instruments, it belongs to the group of avanaddha vadya (Skt. "Coated instruments"). It is widespread in the practice of making music in the Karnat tradition. The North Indian counterpart of mrdanga is pakhawaj.

The body of the mrdanga is hollow, carved out of valuable wood (black, red), resembles a barrel in shape, the largest part of which around the circumference, as a rule, is asymmetrically displaced towards the wider membrane. The length of the body varies from 50 to 70 cm, the diameter of the membranes is 18 to 20 cm.

The membranes are of different sizes (the left one is larger than the right one) and are leather covers that are not attached directly to the body of the instrument, but, like all Indian classical drums, through thick leather hoops using a belt system. When pulled through both hoops, these straps run along the body and connect both membranes.

Unlike drums such as pakhawaj and tabla, the construction of the mrdanga lacks wooden bars passed through belts and used for tuning; the change in tension in the belt fastening system occurs by knocking directly the membrane hoop. During the game, the drum body is often covered over the belts with an embroidered cloth “blanket”.

The structure of the membranes is characterized by the complexity characteristic of South Asian drums. They are made up of two superimposed circles of leather, sometimes sandwiched with special reeds to create special sound effects. The upper circle has a hole located in the center or slightly offset to the side; at the right membrane, it is constantly covered with a coating of dark paste of a special composition, the recipe of which is kept secret by the musicians. Before each performance, a light paste mixed with rice or wheat flour is applied to the left membrane, which is scraped off immediately after the game.

The term mrdanga means not only this type of drum, it also has a specific character. It covers the entire group of barrel-shaped drums, common in the practice of both classical and traditional music-making in the region. Already in the ancient Indian texts, such types of drums of this group as Java, gopuccha, haritaka, etc. are mentioned.

In our time, the mrdanga group, in addition to the drum with this name, is represented in a variety of ways; this includes both the actual mrdangas of various configurations and functionalities, and, for example, drums of the dholak group, used in traditional music and music-dance genres, and other drums of a similar form.

The mrdanga itself, like its North Indian counterpart pakhawaj, occupies a central place among them, being associated with the types of music making, in which the essence of musical thinking South Asia. The complex, technically perfect design of the m. In conjunction with a system that allows you to adjust its tuning, creates special conditions for accurate regulation and nuance of its pitch and timbre parameters.

Having a deep, rich timbre sound, mrdanga is also an instrument with a relatively controlled pitch. The diaphragms are tuned in the fourth (fifth), which in general significantly expands the range of the instrument. Classical mrdanga is a drum with the widest range of expressive and technical possibilities that have evolved over the centuries into a carefully developed and thoroughly substantiated theoretical system.

One of its features, which is also characteristic of other drums in the region, is the specific practice of bol or connacol - verbalization ("pronunciation") of metrhythmic formulas, tala, which is a synthesis of the verbal (including to a large extent the element of sound imitation) and physiomotor principles in their combination with expressive qualities of the instrument.

Mridang is not only the oldest drum of the subcontinent; it is an instrument that vividly embodies specific regional ideas about sound and sound. It is the drums, among which the mrdanga group is the leading one, that have preserved the basic genetic codes of the culture of Hindustan to this day.

Hear the sound of mrdanga

Kanjira ( canjira)

Kanjira- Indian tambourine used in South Indian music. Kanjira is an amazing instrument with a very pleasant sound and an amazingly wide range of possibilities. Has a strong bass and a lingering high sound. Known not so long ago, in classical music used since the 1930s. Kanjir is usually played in an ensemble of folk instruments, with mrdanga.

The membrane of the instrument is made of lizard skin, which is why the instrument has amazing musical properties. It is stretched from one side on a wooden frame made of jackfruit wood, 17-22 cm in diameter and 5-10 cm deep. The other side remains open. There is one pair of metal plates on the frame. The art of playing can reach a high level, the developed technique of the right hand allows the use of techniques of playing other frame drums.

Hear the sound of the kanjira

Gatam and Maja ( ghatam)

Gatam- a clay pot from southern India, used in the "karnak" musical style. The gatam is one of the most ancient instruments of southern India. The name of this instrument literally means "water jug". This is no coincidence, since its shape resembles a vessel for a liquid.

The sound of the gatam is similar to the African udu drum, but the technique of playing it is much more complicated and sophisticated. The main difference between gatama and oudu is that at the production stage, metal dust is added to the clay mixture, which has a beneficial effect on the acoustic properties of the instrument.

Gatam consists of three components. The bottom is called the bottom. This is an optional part of the instrument as some gatams have no bottom. The tool thickens towards the middle. It is on this part of the instrument that you have to strike in order to produce ringing sounds. The top is called the neck. Its sizes may vary. The neck can be wide or narrow. This part also plays an important role in the game. By pressing the neck against the body, the performer can also produce various sounds, changing the sound of the gatama. The musician strikes the surface with his hands, holding him on his knee.

The uniqueness of the gatama lies in the fact that it is completely self-sufficient. This means that it reproduces sounds using the same materials from which the body is made. Some instruments require additional components to extract sounds. This can be, for example, strings or stretched animal skin. In the case of gatam, everything is much simpler. However, gatam can change. For example, you can pull the leather over the neckline. The instrument is used as a drum. In this case, it produces sounds due to the vibration of the stretched skin. The pitch also changes in this case. Gatam produces inhomogeneous sounds. It depends on how, in what place and with what you hit it. You can hit with your fingers, finger rings, fingernails, palms, or wrist. Gatama musicians can make their performance very effective. Some gatama performers throw the instrument into the air at the end of the performance. It turns out that the gatam is broken with the last sounds.

Also in India there is a version of this drum called madga - it has a more round shape and a narrow neck than gatam. In addition to metal dust, graphite powder is also added to the mixture for maji. In addition to its individual acoustic properties, the instrument acquires a pleasant darkish color with a bluish tint.

Listen to the sound of gatama

Tawil ( thavil)

Tawil is a percussion instrument known in southern India. Used in traditional ensembles with the nagswaram reed instrument.

The body of the instrument is made of jackfruit; leather membranes are stretched on both sides. The right side of the instrument is larger than the left side, and the right diaphragm is stretched very tightly and the left diaphragm is looser. The tool is set up using belts passed through two hemp fiber rims, in modern versions of fastening metal.

The drum is played either sitting or suspended from a belt. Mostly played with the palms, although sometimes special sticks or rings worn on the fingers are used.

Listen to the sound of tawil

Pakhawaj ( Pakhavaj)

Pakhawaj (Hindi,"Solid, dense sound") - a two-membrane drum in the shape of a barrel, common in the practice of music making in the Hindustani tradition. In accordance with the Indian classification of instruments, like all other drums, it is included in the group of avanaddha vadya ("coated instruments").

Typologically related to its South Indian counterpart mrdanga. The pakhawaja body is hollowed out from a block of valuable wood (black, red, pink). Compared to the configuration of the mrdanga body, the pakhawaja body has a more cylindrical shape, with less bulges in the center. Body length 60-75 cm, membrane diameter approx. 30 cm, the right membrane is slightly smaller than the left one.

The design of the membranes, as well as the belt system of their connection, is similar to mrdanga, but in contrast to it, the change in the tension of the belts, and, consequently, the process of adjusting the membranes, is carried out by knocking round wooden bars laid between the belts closer to the left membrane (as in tabla). On the right membrane, a cake made of dark paste (syakhi) is glued and permanently, on the left one, before the game, it is applied, and immediately after it, a cake made of wheat or rice flour mixed with water is removed.

Like other classical drums of the region, this contributes to the achievement of a deeper and more differentiated timbre and pitch sound. In general, it is distinguished by "solidity", "seriousness", timbre depth and richness. When playing, Pakhawaj is placed horizontally in front of the musician sitting on the floor.

It almost never sounds like a solo instrument, being mainly part of ensembles accompanying singing, dancing, playing an instrumentalist or vocalist, where this instrument is entrusted with the presentation of the tala line. It is especially strongly associated with the vocal tradition of dhrupad, which flourished during the reign of Emperor Akbar (16th century), but nowadays occupies a rather limited place in the musical culture of Hindustani.

The sound quality of Pakhawaj, the peculiarities of his technique, are directly related to the aesthetic and emotional aspects of dhrupada: the slowness, severity and sequence of the deployment of the sound fabric on the basis of strictly regulated rules.

At the same time, pakhawaj has developed virtuoso-technical capabilities, which allows the musician to fill the metro-rhythmic clichés (theka) correlated with dhrupad with various rhythmic figurations. Many of the techniques inherent in Pakhawaj became the basis of the tabla, drum technique, with the tradition of playing music on which it is linked by the bonds of continuity.

Listen to Pakhawaj solo

tumbaknari, tumbaknaer)

(tumbaknari, tumbaknaer) is the national Kashmiri goblet drum used for solos, accompaniment to songs and at weddings in Kashmir. It is similar in shape to the Afghan Zerbakhali, but the body is larger, longer and the Indians can play two tumbaknari at the same time. The word tumbaknari consists of two parts: Tumbak and Nari, where Nari means a clay pot, since, unlike the Iranian tonbak, the tumbaknari body is made of clay. This drum is played by both men and women. Other goblet drums used in India are humate(ghumat) and jamuku(jamuku) (South India).

Listen to a tumbaknari solo with a gotham.

Damaru ( damaru)

Damaru- a small two-membrane drum in India and Tibet, shaped like an hourglass. This drum is usually made of wood with leather membranes, but it can also be made entirely of human skulls and a snakeskin membrane. The resonator is made of copper. The height of the damru is about 15 cm. The weight is about 250-300 g. Such a drum is played by rotating it with one hand. Sound is mainly produced by balls that are attached to a string or leather cord wrapped around a narrow part of the damru. When a person shakes the drum using wave-like movements of the wrists, the ball (or balls) are struck on both sides of the damaru. This musical instrument is used by itinerant musicians of all kinds because of its small size. It is also used in the ritual practice of Tibetan Buddhism.

Skull damru is called "thöpa" and is usually made from skull caps neatly cut above the ear and joined at the tops. Inside, mantras are written in gold. The skin is painted with copper or other mineral salts, as well as special herbal mixtures for two weeks. As a result, it becomes blue or green. The junction of the halves of the damru is tied with a knitted cord, to which a handle is attached. Beaters are tied to the same place, whose knitted shell symbolizes the eyeballs. Skulls are selected according to certain requirements for the former owners and methods of obtaining. Now the production of damru in Nepal and export to other countries is prohibited, because the bones are mainly obtained in dishonest ways. The "heavenly burial" ritual is not as traditional as it used to be. First, China considers it not entirely legal. Secondly, finding firewood or other materials to burn the body has become easier and not expensive. Previously, only rulers and priests of high rank were honored with such an expensive procedure. Third, most Tibetans are now dying in hospitals. Their bodies, soaked in medicines, the birds do not want to eat, which is necessary before making the instrument.

Damaru is generally well known throughout the Indian subcontinent. Among the Shaivites, he is associated with the form of Shiva called Nataraja, being a symbol of the latter. The four-armed Nataraja holds the damaru at the top right hand when performing his cosmic tandava dance. It is believed that damaru is voiced by the primordial sound itself (nada). There is a legend that all the sounds of Sanskrit originated from the sounds of Shiva playing damaru. The beat of this drum symbolizes the rhythm of forces during the creation of the world, and both of its halves personify the masculine (lingam) and feminine (yoni) principles. And the connection of these parts is the very place where life originates.

Hear the sound of damaru in a Buddhist ritual.

Japanese, Korean, Asian and Hawaiian drums

Taiko ( Taiko)

Taiko is a family of drums used in Japan. Verbatim taiko translated as a big (pot-bellied) drum.

Most likely, these drums were brought from China or Korea between the 3rd and 9th centuries, and after the 9th century they were made by local craftsmen who gave birth to a unique Japanese instrument.

In ancient times, there was a signal drum in every village. Simple combinations of blows secretly transmitted signals of impending danger or general work. As a result, the territory of the village was determined by such a distance to which the sound of a drum could reach it.

With a drum imitating the rumble of thunder, the peasants called for rain in dry seasons. Only the most respected and enlightened of the inhabitants could play the taiko. With the strengthening of the main religious teachings, this function passed to the ministers of Shinto and Buddhism, and the taiko became temple instruments. As a result, they began to play the taiko only on special occasions, and only drummers who had received the blessing of the priests for this.

Currently, taiko drummers play compositions only with the permission of the teacher and learn all compositions exclusively by ear. Music notation is not kept and, moreover, is prohibited. Training takes place in special communities, fenced off from the outside world, representing a cross between an army unit and a monastery. Taiko requires a lot of strength to play, so all drummers undergo rigorous physical training.

It is reliably known that one of the earliest taiko appointments was in the military. The thunder of drums during attacks was used to intimidate the enemy and inspire their troops to battle. Later, by the fifteenth century, drums became a tool for signaling and transmitting messages during battle.

In addition to military and territorial, taiko have always been used for aesthetic purposes. Music in style gagaku appeared in Japan during the Nara period (697 - 794) along with Buddhism and quickly took root at the imperial court as an official one. A single taiko is part of a group of instruments accompanying theater performances But and Kabuki.

The drums of Japan are collectively called taiko, and by design they are divided into two large groups: by-daiko, in which the membrane is rigidly fixed with nails without the possibility of adjustment, and shime-daiko, which can be adjusted using cords or screws. The drum body is hollowed out from a single piece of hardwood. Taiko is played with sticks called bachi.

In our studio there are analogs of taiko, from the "Big Drum" project, on which you can perform traditional Japanese music.

Listen to the sound of Japanese drums

uchiwa daiko)

The Japanese ritual tambourine used in Buddhist ceremonies Literally translated as a fan drum. Despite its small size, it has an impressive sound. It is similar in shape to the Chukchi tambourine. Nowadays, drummers often put several uchiva daiko on a stand, which makes it possible to perform more complex rhythmic compositions.

Listen to a set from uchiva-daiko

changu).

Changu Is the Korean drum most commonly used in traditional music. Consists of two parts, which are usually made of wood, porcelain or metal, but it is believed that the best material is Paulownia or Adam's wood, as it is light and soft, which gives it a beautiful sound. These two parts are connected by a tube and covered with leather (usually deer) on both sides. In ancient peasant rituals, it symbolized the element of rain.

Used in the traditional samulnori genre. Traditional drum music is based on a long tradition of Korean peasant music performed during village festivals, worship and field work. The Korean words "sa" and "mul" translate to "4 instruments" and nori means play and performance. The musical instruments in the samulnori orchestra are called changu, puk, pingari and chin (two drums and two gongs).

puk).

Bunch- a traditional Korean drum, consisting of a wooden body covered with leather on both sides. Began to be used since 57 BC. and usually for court Korean music. The bunch is usually mounted on a wooden post, but the musician can hold it on the hip as well. A stick made of heavy wood is used to strike. Symbolizes the element of thunder.

Listen to Korean drums

There are two types of Nga drums. The first, Ra-dang or Dang Chen (hand drum), is used during ritual processions. The drum has a long, single-carved wooden handle, at the end of which a vajra is depicted. Sometimes a silk scarf is tied on the handle as a symbol of reverence for a divine musical instrument.

Nga Chen- a large double-sided drum hanging inside a wooden frame. Its diameter is more than 90 cm. The image of a lotus is also used as a decoration. The drum stick has a curved shape and is covered with fabric at the end for greater softness upon impact. The performance on this instrument is distinguished by great virtuosity; there are up to 300 ways of playing the ngachen (on the membrane there are drawings and magic symbols arranged according to cosmic zones). This drum also resembles Chinese imperial drums.

Nga-bom- a large double-sided drum, mounted on a handle, which is struck with a bent stick (one or two); nga-shung (nga-shunku) - a small double-sided drum used mainly during dancing; rolmo - plates with a large bulge in the center (they are held horizontally); strong nyuen - plates with a slight bulge in the center (and sometimes without it); "or to Nikolai Lgovsky.

As for the Tumba-Yumba tribe, it comes from the French "Mumbo-Yumbo", which goes back to the English Mumbo Jumbo ("Mambo-Jumbo"). This word appeared in the books of European travelers to Africa; it meant the idol (spirit) with which men frightened women. The word "Mumbo-Yumbo" as the name of an African tribe is found in the book "The Twelve Chairs" by I. Ilf and E. Petrov.

The sound of drums there-there

bajiaogu, bafangu).

Bajiogu- Chinese octagonal drum, similar to Arabic rick. Python skin is used for the membrane. The body has seven holes for metal cymbals. This drum was brought to China by the Mongols, which was popular with them even before our era. The octagonal drum was also the national instrument of the Manchus. Apparently, in ancient times this drum was used for ritual dances. During the Qin Dynasty, a similar drum was depicted on the flag. Today, the tambourine is mainly used to accompany traditional vocals or dances.

The sound of an octagonal Chinese tambourine in the vocal part

Vietnamese bronze drum frog drum ( frogdrum).

Frog-drum is one of the oldest drums, the progenitor of metallophones in Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese are especially proud of their bronze culture. In the era of the so-called Dong Shon civilization, the Laquiet people in 2879 BC. the semi-legendary kingdom of Wanglang was created. Bronze drums with a characteristic geometric pattern, scenes of folk life and images of totem animals have become a symbol of the Dong Son culture. The drums performed not only musical, but also ritual functions.

Features of Dong Shon Bronze Drum:

• In the center of the drum is a star with 12 rays. These rays alternate patterns in the shape of a triangle or a peacock feather. According to the ancients, the star in the center of the drum is a symbol of faith in the Solar God. Feathers on the drums show that birds were the totems of the inhabitants of that time.
• Plants, animals and geometric patterns are located around the star. Many researchers interpret everyday scenes depicted on the drums as "funerals" or "rain making festival".
• On the body of the drum, boats, heroes, birds, animals, or geometrical ones are usually painted at the zora.
• The drum has 4 temples.

Similar drums are now used in Thailand and Laos. Legends of the Ho-Mong people say that the drum saved the lives of their ancestors during large floods. The drum was one of the items that was placed with the deceased in a tomb (Dong Son area, Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam).

Hear the sound of orextra frog drams

gedombak).

Gfoodback Is a goblet-shaped drum used in Malay folk music. The drum body is made of hardwood, mostly jackfruit (East Indian breadfruit) or anngsana. The membrane is made from goat skin. Usually two people perform with two instruments, one of which is called Gendang Ibu (Mother), which has a lower sound, and the other is Gendang Anak (Child), which has the same size, but with a higher sound. During the performance, the drum lies in a horizontal position, the left hand is pounded on the membrane, while the right hand closes and opens the hole. Typically, the gendonbak is paired with the Gendang ibu double-sided drum.

Hear the sound of the hedonback

Thai drum Ton ( thon, thab, thap).

In Thailand and Cambodia, a drum very similar to a hedonback and a huge darbuka is called Tone... It is often used in conjunction with a frame drum called ramana (ramana). These two tools are often referred to with the same word thon-ramana... The tone is placed on the knees and is beaten with the right hand, while the Ramana is held in the left hand. Unlike the gedonbaka, the tone is much larger - its body reaches a meter or more in length. The body is made of wood or faience. The palace tones are very beautiful with mother-of-pearl trim. With such drums, as a rule, they arrange a dance procession and play polyrhythmy with metallophones.

Listen to the sound of the tone in the dance procession

Gendang).

Gendang(Kendang, Kendhang, Gendang, Gandang, Gandangan) - drum of the traditional Indonesian gamelan orchestra. Among the peoples of Java, Sudan and the Malays, one side of the drum is larger than the other and produces a lower sound. Bali and Maranao drums have both sides the same. The performer usually sits on the floor and plays with his hands or special sticks. In Malaysia, the gendang is used in conjunction with the gedombek drum.

Drums vary in size:

• Kendhang ageng, kendhang gede or kendhang gendhing is the largest drum with a low pitch.
• Kendhang ciblon is a medium sized drum.
• Kendhang batangan, a medium sized kendhang wayang, used for accompaniment.
• Kendhang ketipung is the smallest drum.

Sometimes drums of different sizes are used to make a drum set and one performer can play different drums at the same time.

Listen to the sound of a set from Indonesian gendangs

Hawaiian Ipu Drum (Ipu)

Ipu- Hawaiian percussion musical instrument, often used to create accompanying music during the performance of the hula dance. Ipu is traditionally made from two pumpkin fruits.

There are two types of IPU:

• ipu-heke(ipu heke). Made from two pumpkin fruits connected to each other. Pumpkins are specially grown to obtain the desired shape. When they have reached the appropriate size, the pumpkins are harvested, the tops and flesh are removed, leaving tough, empty shells. The largest fruit is placed at the bottom. A hole is cut in the small fruit. Pumpkins are glued with breadfruit juice.
• ipu-heke-ole(ipu heke ʻole). It is made from one pumpkin fruit, the top of which is cut off. With such instruments, girls can dance while simultaneously beating the rhythm.

Hawaiians usually play it while seated, striking the top of the ipu with their fingers or palms. To emphasize the first beat of each bar, the player strikes the soft tissue of the mouthpiece that lies on the ground in front of the player, producing a deep, resonant sound. Subsequent strikes are made above the ground on the bottom of the instrument with three or four fingers, creating a high-pitched sound.

Listen to Ipu accompaniment for Hawaiian songs

Hawaiian Pahu Drum (Pahu)

Groin- traditional Polynesian drum (Hawaii, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tokelau). It is cut from a solid trunk and covered with shark skin or stingray skin. Play on it with palms or fingers. The groin is considered a sacred drum and is usually found in a temple (heiau). Serves as accompaniment to traditional hula songs and dances.

Drums of religious significance are called Heiau pahu(prayer drum). A stingray skin is usually used for a prayer drum, while for musical drum shark skin is used. The drum for musical accompaniment is called Hula pahu... Both drums have an ancient history and are similar in shape.

Small drums are usually cut from the trunk of a coconut tree. There are also Pahu drums resembling a huge table, at which the musician plays while standing.

Listen to the groin drum accompaniment for Hawaiian hula dancing

African drums

Djembe (Djembe)

Djembe- a cup-shaped West African drum (about 60 cm high and a membrane diameter of about 30 cm), hollowed out of a solid piece of wood with stretched antelope or goat skin, often with metal plates " kesingkesing»Applied to amplify sound. It appeared in the Malian Empire in the XII century and was figuratively called the Healing Drum. The open body shape is believed to be derived from a conventional grain crusher. Depending on the beat, djembe produces three basic sounds: bass, tonal and sharp slap. African rhythms are characterized by polyrhythm, when several drum parts create a common rhythm.

They play the djembe with their palms. Basic hits: Bass (to the center of the head), Tone (main hit on the edge of the head), Slap (slap on the edge of the head).

It gained wide popularity in the 20th century thanks to the group Le Ballet Africains, the National Ensemble of Guinea. The popularity of djembe has also contributed to its relatively easy hand-wear, has a fairly strong bass, and is easy to pick up for beginners. In Africa, djembe masters are called djembefola. Djembefall must know all the rhythms played in the village. Each rhythm corresponds to a specific event. Djembe is both an accompanying and a solo instrument that allows you to tell a lot to the listeners and literally make people move!

Listen to a djembe solo with dunduns and a shaker

Dongdong

Dongdong- Three bass drums of West Africa (from smallest to largest: Kenkeni, Sangban, Dudunba). Dunumba - Big drum. Sangban - Medium drum. Kenkeni is a snare drum.

On these drums the skin of a bull is stretched. The leather is stretched using special metal rings and ropes. These drums are tuned in pitch accordingly. The sound is produced with a stick.

The Dunduns are the backbone of the traditional ballet in West Africa. The dunduns form an interesting melody and other instruments, including the djembe, are played on top. Initially, one person played each bass drum, striking the membrane with one stick, and the other on the ringing bell (kenken). In a more modern version, one person plays simultaneously on three vertical reels.

When played in an ensemble, the bass drums form a basic polyrhythm.

Listen to African Dunduns

Kpanlogo ( kpanlogo)

Kpanlogo - a traditional peg drum in the western region of Ghana. The body of the drum is made of hard wood, the membrane is made of antelope skin. The leather is attached and adjusted with special pegs inserted into the hole in the case. The shape and sound are very similar to the conga, but smaller in size.

The Kpanlogo performer must be inventive, conduct a musical dialogue (question-answer) with the rest of the instruments. The Kpanlogo part includes elements of improvisation, a constant change of the pattern in accordance with the dancer's movements. Kpanlogo is played with the palm of your hand, the techniques are similar to playing the conga or djembe. When playing, the drum is clamped with your feet and slightly tilted away from you. It is a very interesting and melodic instrument that sounds beautiful both in group rhythm and in solo. Sets of different keys of Kpanlogo are often used, which is very similar to the sets of Cuban Kongs, which, in all likelihood, originated from Kpanlogo.

Listen to the sound of the set from Kpanloy

Drums of Ashanti ( Ashante)

Drums of Ashanti - traditional drum set of peg drums in Ghana. The set is named after the biggest drum Fontomfrom ( Fontomfrom). Often, a large drum can be taller than a person and must be climbed up a ladder attached to the drum. The smaller drums are called Atumpan ( Atumpan), Apanthema ( Apentema), Apettia ( Apetia) .

Ashanti drummers are called heavenly drummers. The drummers occupy a high position in the court of the Ashanti chief, they are obliged to ensure that the huts of the chief's wives are in all right... In Ashanti lands, women are not allowed to touch the drum, and the drummer does not dare to move his drum from place to place. It is believed that while doing this, he can go crazy. Some words cannot be tapped on the drum, they are taboo. You cannot, for example, mention the words "blood" and "skull". In ancient times, a drummer, if he made a serious mistake, passing the message of the leader, could have his hands cut off. Now there is no such custom, and only in the most remote corners a drummer can still lose his ear for negligence.

With the help of drums, Ashanti can drum the entire history of their tribe. This is done during certain festivities, when drummers list the names of deceased leaders and describe significant events in the life of the tribe.

Hear the sound of Ashanti drums

Talking drum ( Talking drums)

Talking drum- a special type of African drums, originally intended to maintain communication between villages. The drum sound could mimic human speech, and a complex system of rhythmic phrases was used. As a rule, a talking drum is two-headed, in the shape of an hourglass, the skin on both sides is pulled together by a strap made of animal skin or intestines braided around the body. When playing, the talking drum is held by holding it under the left hand and hitting it with a curved stick. By squeezing the drum (meaning the rope of the drum), the player changes the pitch of its sound, thus highlighting the different notes in its sound. The harder you squeeze the drum, the higher it will sound. All this gives different variants of the "drum language", thanks to which it is possible to transmit various messages and signs to other, neighboring villages. Some examples of drum rhythms are associated with spiritual beings in each tribe. With the sounds of prayers and the blessings of talking drums, a new day begins in countless villages across West Africa.

The talking drum is one of the oldest instruments used by West African Griots (in West Africa, a member of the caste responsible for preserving tribal stories in the form of music, poetry, stories) and their origins can be traced back to the empire of ancient Ghana. These drums spread to Central and South America across the Caribbean during the slave trade. Talking drums were subsequently banned for African Americans, as slaves used them to communicate with each other.

The tool is unique in its own way. Outwardly, he may seem unassuming, but this impression is deceiving. The talking drum accompanies a person both in work and in rest. There are few tools that can "keep up" with a person. That is why it rightfully occupies a special place in the culture of Africa and is part of the world cultural heritage.

In Congo and Angola, such drums are called lokole, in Ghana - dondon, in Nigeria - gangan, in Togo - leklevu.

Listen to the beat of the talking drum

Ashiko (ashiko)

Ashiko(ashiko) - a West African truncated cone drum. Ashiko is considered the birthplace of West Africa, presumably Nigeria, the Yoruba people. The name is most often translated as "freedom". Ashiko were used for healing, during initiation rituals, military rituals, communicating with ancestors, for transmitting signals over distances, etc.

Ashiko is traditionally made from a single piece of hard wood, and modern tools are made from bonded strips. The membrane is made from the skin of an antelope or goat, sometimes from the skin of a cow. A system of ropes and rings controls the degree of tension on the membrane. Modern types of ashiko may have plastic membranes. Ashiko have a height of about half a meter to a meter, sometimes a little higher.

Unlike djembe, where only two tones can be reproduced due to its shape, the ashiko sound depends on the proximity of the strike to the center of the membrane. In the musical tradition of the Yoruba people, ashiko almost never accompanies the djembe, because they are completely different drums. It is believed that ashiko is a “male” drum, and djembe is a “female” drum.

Ashiko-shaped drums in Cuba are called boku and are used during carnivals and street parades called komparsa.

Listen to the African ashiko drum

Bata (Bata)

Batá- these are three membranophones with a wooden case in the shape of an hourglass, with two membranes of different diameters at the ends, the play on which is carried out with the hands.

Make baht either the traditional African method of hollowing out from a whole tree trunk, or the modern one - by gluing from individual planks. On both sides baht membranes made of thin skin (for example, goat skins) are stretched. In traditional baht they are fastened and tensioned with leather strips, the industrial version of the bat uses an iron fastening system designed for bongos and kong. Enu (enú, "mouth") - a larger membrane, which has a correspondingly lower sound. It plays open (open), muted (muted) beats, and touches (touch). Chacha- the smallest membrane. Slaps and touches are played on it. Play on baht sitting, putting it on your knees in front of you. Most of the membrane is usually played with the right hand, at least - with the left.

In Cuba, the ensemble uses 3 baht: Okónkolo- a small drum, which, as a rule, performs a strictly fixed pattern, which performs the function of rhythmic support. In fact, it is a metronome in an ensemble. This drum is usually played by the least experienced drummer. Itótele- the middle drum, its function is to "respond" to the big drum Iya. Iyá- the largest and, therefore, the lowest, "mother drum". Plays on it olubata- the leading, most experienced drummer. Iya is the soloist of the ensemble. There are many customization options baht; O the main rule is tone chacha of each big drum matches enu next smallest. Small bells are often hung on the bata.

Bata were brought to Cuba from Nigeria along with African slaves of the Yoruba people, one of whose objects of worship was Chango (Shango, Changa, Jakuta, Obakoso), the lord of the drums. In Cuba baht began to be widely used in ritual music, where the number of drums in the ensemble was reduced to three (in Nigeria, there are usually 4–5 of them).

Bata play a significant role in religious ceremonies santeria, in which drumming is the language of communication with the gods, and the sense of rhythm is associated with a person's ability to "walk through life" correctly, that is, to perform the necessary actions in the right moment... Drums in santeria are perceived as a family, where everyone has their own voice and their own assigned responsibilities, while the patron saint of each of the species baht is a separate Santerian "god" Orisha - the patron saint of concolo is Chango, hotel- Ochun, and iya - Iemaya . In addition, each drum is believed to have its own "soul" anya (añá), which is “embedded” in the newly made bata during a special ritual, “born” from the “souls” of other bata that have already passed initiation. There are cases when from Nigeria they were specially transported añá while making a new drum "body" in Cuba.

Before the socialist revolution of 1959, the drumming of Bata took place in closed rituals, where either initiates (initiates) or initiates were invited. However, after the revolution, Cuban music was declared a national treasure of Cuba and groups were created (for example, Conjunto Folclorico Nacional de Cuba), studying traditional (mainly religious) music. This certainly met with the displeasure of the "dedicated" drummers. Despite the fact that over time the bata music became public domain, it is still customary to separate the drums used for religious ceremonies ( fundamento) and "worldly" ( aberikula).

Listen to bata drums

Bugarabu ( bougarabou)

Bugarabu(accent on U) - a traditional instrument of Senegal and Gambia, it is not found in other African countries. As a rule, the musician plays three or four drums at the same time. The body is in the shape of a goblet or something like an inverted cone. Sometimes the body is made of clay.

Several decades earlier, the bowarabou was a solo instrument. They played it with one hand and a stick. However, recent generations have begun to assemble tools into rigs. Perhaps it was the influence of the kong instrument on them: as you know, several are always used when playing. For the best sound, the drummer wears a special metal bracelet that adds flavor to the sound.

Bugarabu looks like a djembe, but the leg is shorter or completely absent, the tree is of a different species and is slightly thinner, due to this, the sound is more melodic. When playing, the drummer stands on his feet and physically hits the membrane hard. The sound from the instrument turns out to be beautiful on the one hand: bright and deep, and on the other hand, practical: it can be heard for miles. Bugarabou have a characteristic deep rolling sound, thanks to which the drum got its name. Voiced slap and long-lasting deep bass - distinctive feature this drum, which combines a large playing area and a spacious resonant body. It is often used as a background bass drum for playing with djembe and other drums. However, it is also great for solo playing.

Bugarabou African drum sound

Sabar ( sabar)

Sabar - traditional instrument of Senegal and Gambia. Traditionally, it is played with one hand and a stick. The wand is held in the left hand. As in the case of the Kpanloi, the sabar membrane is attached with pegs.

Sabar is used for communication between villages, at a distance of up to 15 km. Various rhythms and phrases help convey messages. There are several different sizes of this drum. Sabar is also called the musical style of playing the sabar.

Listen to the African sabar drum

Kebero ( kebero)

Kebero - a double-sided tapered drum used in traditional music in Ethiopia, Sudan and Eritrea. Kebero is the only drum used during services in a Christian church in Ethiopia. A small version of the kebero is used during civil holidays. The body is made of metal, both sides are covered with a leather membrane.

The Kebero-type barrel drum is mentioned in the lyrics of the song "Semi Hathor", which was performed with instrumental accompaniment and dances. A recording of the text is preserved in the temple of the goddess Hathor at Dendera (built between 30 BC and 14 AD). Subsequently, the barrel-shaped drum passed into the tradition of subsequent eras. A similar tapered drum - kebero used in divine services in the Coptic Church, is now preserved in the rituals of the Ethiopian Church.

Listen to an Ethiopian service with a kebero

Udu ( Udu)

Udu- African clay drum-pot, originating from Nigeria (udu - both "vessel" and "peace" in the Igbo language). The deep, overtaking sounds that the oudu produced seemed to many to be the "voices of the ancestors" and was originally used in religious and cultural ceremonies. When the hole is struck, it emits a deep low sound, a ceramic ringing sound across the surface. May have a membrane on the surface.

It is worth noting that any traditional school of playing the ear simply does not exist, just as there is no generally accepted name for this instrument. Actually, this is not at all surprising, given that for most of their history, For lived in disunited groups. The only basic technique common to all Nigerian musicians is striking the side hole with the opening and closing of the neck of the drum with the other hand. At the same time, a hypnotic bass is obtained, for which many people love Uda so much. The situation is the same with the name of the instrument: it changes not only from region to region, but also from which ceremonies the drum is used for. Most often, the name "abang mbre" is attributed to him, which simply means "a pot for playing." Also, a curious detail is that initially only women played the oud.

Despite the appearance of fiberglass and wood oudu, clay remains the most popular material for making this tool. Nowadays, most craftsmen make drums on a potter's wheel, but in Nigeria, the traditional method of making without the use of machines and complex tools is still widespread. Exist interesting technique playing with a fiberglass whip, when the properties of the resonator are changed with the help of water poured into a pot. With water, the drum takes on a truly mystical sound.

Udu instruments combine a unique "aqua-resonant" sound with a warm "earthy" vibration, creating a seamless fusion of deep and high enveloping tones. Pleasant to the eye and to the touch, calming and soothing by ear, Udu is able to take you into deep meditation, give you a feeling of comfort and calmness.

Listen to the sound of oudu

Kalabash ( calabash, calebasse)

Kalabash - a large bass drum made of pumpkin. In Mali, it was originally used for cooking. They play on it with their hands, fists or sticks. The diameter of the instrument is about 40 cm. Sometimes the kalabash is immersed in a basin of water and pounded on it with a fist, in this case a very powerful and pumping bass is obtained.

Listen to the sound of Kalabash

Gom dram ( gome drum)

Gom dram - bass drum from Ghana. Made of a wooden box (45x38 cm) and antelope skin. They play it while sitting on the ground, while helping to change the tone with their heels. The style of music is close to Afro-Cuban. The drum was introduced to Ghana in the 18th century by Congolese fishermen. It looks like)

A tribal king or fortuneteller uses this drum in ceremonies. The Yoruba richly decorates its drums with various figures.

Chokwe, Angola
(Chokwe)

Chokwe is a double-sided drum used for distance communication and ritual stories.

Senufo, Cote d'Ivoire
(Senufo)

Senufo is a double-sided drum used for communication at a distance and to accompany the epic.

Listen to African Yoruba rhythms

Listen to African Chokwe rhythms

Listen to African Senufo rhythms

Drum Cuba,
Nigeria (Kuba)

Royal drum richly encrusted with seashells

Bamileke, Cameroon
(BAMILEKE)

Belongs to the nationality of the same name in Cameroon.

Yaka, Cameroon
(YAKA )

Wooden drum with a slot. This drum is used for accompaniment and is played with two sticks.

Latin American drums

Cajon ( Cajon )

Cajon appeared in Peru at the beginning of the 19th century. According to one version, the slaves used fruit boxes for playing music, since African drums were banned by the Spanish colonial authorities. The peak of its popularity came in the middle of the century, before late XIX For centuries, musicians continued to experiment with the materials and construction of the cajon to achieve the best sound. From that time on, it began to spread throughout Latin America and by the twentieth century had become an integral part of Peruvian and Cuban musical culture.

In the seventies of the twentieth century, the Peruvian composer and cajon maker Caitro Soto presented the cajon as a gift to the Spanish guitarist Paco de Lucia, who was visiting Peru. Paco liked the sound of the cajon so much that the famous guitarist bought another instrument before leaving the country. A little later, Paco de Lucia introduced the cajon in flamenco music, and its sound became firmly associated with this musical direction.

On our site you can find a flamenco rhythm stew for darbuka.

Listen to the sound of the cajon

Congi ( Conga )

Conga is a narrow tall Cuban drum with African roots, possibly derived from the Makuta Makuta drums or the Sikulu Sikulu drums common in Mbanza Ngungu, Congo. A person who plays the conga is called a "conguero". In Africa, congas were made from hollow logs; in Cuba, the process of making congas resembles the manufacture of barrels. Actually, originally Cuban congas were made just from barrels. These instruments were common in Afro-Caribbean religious music and rumba. Congas are now very popular in Latin music, especially in styles such as salsa, merengue, regaeton and many others.

Most modern kongs have a staved wood or fiberglass body and a leather (plastic) membrane. When played standing, the kongas are usually about 75 cm from the edge of the body to the head of the performer. You can also play conga while sitting.

Although they originated in Cuba, their incorporation into popular and folk music in other countries has resulted in a diversification of terminology for documentation and performers. Ben Jacobi, in his Introduction to the Conga Drum, thinks the drums are called congas in English, but tumbadoras in Spanish. The names of the individual drums, from large to small, as they are commonly called in Cuba:

• Supertumba (supertumba) can grow to about 14 inches (35.5 cm) in diameter.
• Tumba usually 12 to 12.5 inches (30.5 to 31.8 cm) in diameter.
• Conga (conga) typically 11.5 to 12 inches (29.2 to 30.5 cm) in diameter.
• Quinto about 11 inches in diameter (about 28 cm).
• Rekinto may be less than 10 inches in diameter (24.8 cm).
• Ricardo) approximately 9 inches (22.9 cm). Since this drum is often attached to the shoulder strap, it is usually narrower and shorter than the traditional konga.

The term "conga" was popularized in the 1950s when Latin music swept across the United States. Cuban son (son) and New York jazz mixed and gave a new style, later called mambo, and later salsa. In that same period, the popularity of the Conga Line helped to spread this new term. Desi Arnaz also played a role in the popularization of conga drums. The word "konga" comes from the rhythm la conga often played at Cuban carnivals. The drums on which the rhythm was played la conga had a name tambores de conga, which was translated into English as conga drums.

Listen to the Kong Solo

Bongos

Bongo or bongos - an instrument of Cuban origin, consisting of a pair of single-headed, open drums attached to each other. A drum of a larger diameter is called an embra (hembra - Spanish for a woman, a female), and a smaller one - a macho (macho - in Spanish for a male). The smaller bong sounds about a third higher than the wider one.

Apparently, bongos came to Latin America along with slaves from Africa. Historically, bongos are associated with styles of Cuban music such as salsa, changui and son, which emerged in eastern Cuba in the second half of the 19th century. It should be noted, however, that bongo-like pairs of drums with ceramic bodies and goatskin have been found in Morocco, as well as in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries.

Listen to bong solo

(Pandeiro)

- South American tambourine used in Portugal and other countries.

In Brazil, pandeiro is considered a folk musical instrument, the soul of samba. The rhythm of pandeiro complements the sound of the atabaque when used in musical accompaniment Brazilian capoeira.

Traditionally, a pandeiro is a wooden rim over which a skin membrane is stretched. On the sides of the rim are built-in cup-shaped metal bells (along the port. Platinelas). Nowadays, the membrane of a pandeiro or the entire pandeiro is often made of plastic. The sound of a pandeiro can be modulated by pulling and loosening the membrane.

They play the pandeira as follows: the performer holds the pandeira himself in one hand (often in the rim of the pandeiro, a hole is made for the index finger in one of the gaps between the platinelas bells to make it easier to hold the instrument), and with the other hand he hits the membrane, which, in fact, and produces sound.

The creation of different rhythms on a pandeira depends on the force of the impact on the membrane, on where the impact falls and on which part of the palm is hit - with the thumb, fingertips, open palm, boat palm, edge of the palm or lower part of the palm. The pandeiro can also be shaken or swiped along the rim of the pandeiro, producing a slightly squeaky sound.

By alternating various beats on the pandeiro and thus producing different sounds, one obtains sonorous, clear, as if even slightly transparent pandeiro rhythms. Pandeiro generally differs in that it can create a sonorous and pronounced tone. It gives clarity to the sound, well-placed accents when playing fast and complex rhythms.

Tu-tu-pa-tum is one of the simplest pandeira rhythms. Two blows with the thumb on the edge of the pandeiro ("tu-tu"), a blow with the whole palm on the center of the pandeiro ("pa") and again a blow with the thumb on the edge of the pandeiro ("tum"). At the last blow, the pandeira is shaken a little, making the instrument a movement from the bottom up, as if "towards" the palm that strikes.

The relative simplicity of this instrument, which, at first glance, is not so difficult (especially in comparison with the berimbau) to learn to play, is deceiving. The technique of playing the Pandeira is quite complicated. To become a true master of the Pandeira game, you need to practice a lot, as, in principle, and in any business in which you want to become a professional.

Listen to Pandeiro's solo

- very deep, loud Brazilian double-headed bass drum. Made of metal or thin wood, the heads are covered in goatskin (often plastic these days). Surdo is widely used in Brazilian carnival music. Surdu is played with a stick with a soft tip in the right hand, and left hand, without a stick, muffles the membrane in between. Sometimes the sound is produced with two beaters. There are three sizes of surdo:

1. Surdu "(ji) primeira"("De primeira") or "gi marcação" ("de marcação") - this is the most bass drum with a diameter of 24 inches. Plays in the second and fourth counts of the bar - accent beats in samba. This is the basis for the formation of bateria.

2. Surdu "(ji) shogunda"("De segunda") or "ji resposta" ("de resposta") with a diameter of 22 inches. Plays in the first and third counts of the bar. As its name suggests - "resposta", "answer" - surdu shogunda responds to surdu primeira.

3. Surdu "(ji) terceira"("De terceira") or "gi cramps" ("de corte"), "centrador" ("centrador") are approximately 20 inches in diameter. Plays the same beats as the surdu primeira, with the addition of various variations. The rhythm of the whole bateria is based on the sound of this drum.

Listen to solo surdo

Cuica

Kuika- Brazilian percussion musical instrument from the group of friction drums, most often used in samba. Has a squeaky, harsh high-register timbre.

It is a cylindrical metal (originally wooden) body, 6-10 inches in diameter. Leather is pulled on one side of the body, the other side remains open. On the inside, a bamboo stick is attached to the center and perpendicular to the leather membrane. The instrument is hung from the side at chest level with a strap. While playing the kuik, the musician rubs the stick up and down, using a damp cloth held in one hand, pressing with the thumb of the other hand on the leather membrane from the outside, in the area of ​​the stick attachment. Rubbing movements generate sound, while the tone changes depending on the degree of pressure on the membrane.

Kuika plays an important rhythmic role in samba music of all styles. It is noteworthy that the instrument was used by groups of performers at the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, in the rhythm sections of the cuic performers. In the absence of such musicians, Brazilian singers can imitate the sound of kuiki.

Listen to the sound of kyuki

Drum Pow-Wow ( Pow Wow Drum)

Drum Pow-Wow is a traditional American Indian drum made in the style of Sioux Drums. The drum is carefully assembled from 12 sections of New Mexico's main tree species, one for each month of the year; the parts are polished, then covered with raw leather and braided. The instrument was used in healing rituals, communicating with spirits and as an accompaniment to dances. The size of the drums varies greatly; several performers play the big drums.

Listen to American Indians singing to a Pow-Wow drum

Stildrum ( Steel drum, pan, kettle drum)

Steel drum or steel drum- invented in the 1930s after Trinidad and Tobago passed a law banning membrane drums and bamboo sticks for music performance. The drum was forged from steel barrels (in large quantities left on the beaches after the end of the Second World War), from steel sheets with a thickness of 0.8 - 1.5 mm. Tuning the instrument consists of shaping petal-shaped areas in this steel sheet and giving them the desired sound with hammers. Instrument readjustments may be required once or twice a year.

Used in Afro-Caribbean music such as calypso and sapa. The instrument is also represented in the armed forces of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago - since 1995 there has been a "steel band" under the Defense Forces, which is the only military band in the world to use a steel drum. Usually, several types of instrument are played in an ensemble: the ping-pong leads the melody, the tune boom forms the harmonic base, and the bass boom keeps the rhythm.

It is the forerunner of instruments such as the hang drum and the glucophone.

Listen to a Steel Drama melody along with a cajon and ukulele

European drums

Tamorra ( Tamorra)

Tamorra Also called tamborra (etymologically related to the word Tamburo or drum in Italian), this is a frame drum with light jingles, typical of the folk music tradition of the Italian province of Campania, but also common in Sicily. It resembles a Basque tambourine, but much heavier and much larger. In the technique of the game, alternating strokes of the thumb and all other fingers are used. A unique brush rotation technique is also used. For the first time, images of tambourines, similar to tamorra, appear on ancient Roman frescoes, and the position of the musician's hand is very similar to modern traditional technique.

Apparently, these drums are closely related to the ancient mysteries. Remnants of these Dionysian mysteries have survived almost to our days in the form of musical traditions associated with the so-called tarantism. Tarantism, according to some researchers, is one of the forms of mass hysteria associated with the ancient belief in a mythical creature, the so-called Taranta, which is sometimes identified with the tarantula spider, although this is not entirely correct. Taranta is rather evil spirit, a demon who possessed victims, usually young women, causing convulsions, clouding of consciousness, up to hysterical seizures. Tarantism epidemics covered entire regions. This phenomenon has been documented in chronicles dating back to the early Middle Ages.

To cure this ailment, a tamorra performer was invited, who for a long time performed a rapid rhythm (usually 6/8), accompanied by singing or a melodic instrument. The patient, over whom this ceremony was performed, had to move rhythmically and quickly for many hours. The ceremony could last up to a day or more, causing complete exhaustion. For a complete cure, the procedure was carried out several times a year. The last cases of tarantism were described in the 70s of the last century. The folk dances tarantella and its older form, pizzicarella, derive from this rite. The convulsive movements of the victim, from which the evil spirit left, over time ritualized and transformed into various dance movements of these incendiary dances.

In our studio you can hear how the tamorra performed by Antonio Gramsci sounds.

Listen to the rhythms of tamorra

Boyran ( bodhrán)

Boyran- Irish percussion musical instrument, reminiscent of a tambourine with a diameter of about half a meter (usually 18 inches). Irish word bodhran translated as "thundering", "deafening". The boyran is held vertically, playing on it in a specific way with a wooden stick resembling a bone. In the kit of a professional performer on the boirana there are sticks of a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

The uniqueness of the boiran lies in the use of a stick with two tips when playing, which strikes the membrane with one or the other end, which significantly reduces the interval between strikes. This stick has a special name - " kipin "... The second hand (usually the left) is used to muffle the head and change the pitch. Sometimes a single-pointed stick is also used, but then you have to make more movements with the brush to perform rhythms with similar speed.

Borane diameter is usually 35 to 45 cm (14 ″ -18 ″). The depth of its sides is 9-20 cm (3.5 ″ -8 ″). Goat skin is stretched on the tambourine on one side. The other side is open to the performer's hand, who can control the pitch and timbre of the sound. There may be 1-2 bars inside, but they are usually not made in professional tools.

Today, the bohran is used not only in Irish folk music, it has stepped far beyond this small island, and music is played on the bohran, which, it would seem, has nothing to do with the environment in which we are used to seeing and hearing it, but wherever he did not appear, a piece of Ireland appears with him.

Listen to the Boyran solo

Lambeg, Northern Ireland ( lambeg)

In addition to the boirana, which tends to be strongly associated with Irish folk music and the traditions of the National Liberation Party, Ireland also has another drum, the lambeg, which is common mainly in Northern Ireland and is associated with the traditions of the Liberal Union Party (parties Conservatives who want Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom). Compared to boiran, lambeg is much less popular, although in fact it is just as interesting and unique.

The name of the drum - "lambeg" - is a generic name, like, for example, copier - as we call all copiers, although in fact it is the name of the company. Lambeg is an area near Lisbourne, a few kilometers southwest of Belfast. It is believed that this name was stuck with the drum, because it was there that they first began to play it with reed sticks.

Lambeg, along with Japanese drums, is one of the loudest drums in the world. Often the volume of its sound reaches 120 decibels, which is comparable to the sound of a small plane taking off or the sound of a pneumatic drill. During street processions, the sound of a lambeg can be heard for several kilometers around.

What is this "monster"? The diameter of the lambeg is about 75 cm, the depth is about 50 cm, and the weight is 14-18 kg. The body is usually made of oak, and the top and bottom are covered with goatskin. Previously, lambeg was made from a single piece of wood, but since Nowadays, such trees no longer grow, then it is made from two curved oak plates, fastened from the inside like a barrel. On one side of the drum, thicker leather is pulled, on the other - thinner, depending on whether the owner of the drum is right-handed or left-handed (more strong hand should hit thicker skin). But regardless of the thickness of the skin, the pitch on impact on both membranes should be the same.

As mentioned earlier, the lambeg is played with reed sticks, because the reed has no connecting seams, so it does not break down the middle. It is split by threads along the entire length of the stick, so gradually the sticks wrinkle at the ends and fail.

As for the decorations, the lambeg is either very simple and austere, or is completely painted with combatant, memorial, religious or political symbols.

During rehearsals or performances, the lambeg is installed on a special stand, but during processions the performers have to literally carry it on themselves. A sturdy strap is attached to the drum and slung over the neck. At the same time, quite often you can observe a picture when one musician is walking and several people are scurrying around, helping him to carry the drum, supporting him here and there.

The most reliable version of the origin of the lambeg is that it came to Ireland from Scotland or Northern England in the first half to the middle of the 17th century with immigrants, former soldiers, or from Holland through William of Holland. In any case, all researchers agree that the progenitor of the lambeg is an ordinary military drum of a much smaller size. And it began to “grow” after a century and a half, somewhere from 1840-1850, due to the usual competition between performers, something like: “My drum is bigger than your drum ...” Before that, lambeg was often accompanied by the sounds of a pipe, but after it had almost doubled in size, the pipes were no longer audible, and now the pair “lambeg-pipe” is more the exception than the rule.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, lambeg is strongly associated with the Liberal Unionist Party, or the Orange Order, which organizes processions every year in July, and in August the National Liberation Party marches with a boyran in hand. As for the rhythms they perform, they are very similar in many ways, because the origins, in any case, regardless of political affiliation, are folk. Apart from such political processions, all year round festivals are held in Ireland where hundreds of performers compete to see who plays the lambeg better. Often such competitions last for several hours in a row, until the performers are completely exhausted. The largest of its kind takes place in Markethill, Armag County, on the last Saturday of July.

Hear the rumble of a lambeg drum

swiss drum)

The Swiss achieved independence in 1291 and became a model of military prowess. The needs of extended marches and camp life fueled the development of drum music in the 1400s. The rest of Europe took notice of these military musical forms at the Battle of Marignano (near Milan, Italy) in 1515.

The Germanic principalities adopted this war music in the 1500s and 1600s. The French used Swiss mercenaries in the 1600s and 1700s who used drum music that influenced the rest of the French army. During the reign of Queen Anne in Great Britain, the English army became very disorganized and undisciplined. In 1714, the British army was reorganized, i.e.In this way, drum music was adopted by the British military (with the exception of the Scottish regiments).

Drum beats have been used to convey various signals. The military life of the camp requires a sequence of daily signals: time to get up, breakfast, call for the sick, packing, lunch, duty calls, dinner, evening retreat, curfew. On the march with ignals were used to make various formations, including stopping the march, expanding, condensing, speeding up, or slowing down. An important use of the drums was the parade before and after the battle. Contrary to popular belief, drums were not used on the battlefield as it was too noisy and confusing.

The history of drum rudiments, closely related to the Swiss drum, later transformed into a snare drum (eng. snare drum), which was previously called side-drum (eng. side drum- that is, "a drum worn on the side") or simply - a military drum (eng. military- military).

In 1588 the book Orchestrography by Thoinot Arbeau from Dion (France) was published. In it, Arbaud described the "Swiss Stroke" and the "Swiss Storm Stroke". These beats were presented in various combinations, but the fingering was not specified for them.

By 1778, when drums were already well integrated into the military system, Baron Friedrich von Stuben of Philadelphia wrote a manual on the use of drums, through the signals (rhythms) of which the corresponding orders were to be given.

The first person to use the term "rudiment" was Charles Stewart Ashworth. In 1812, Charles Stuart Ashworth published his textbook A New, Useful and Complete Drumming System, where he used the term to classify a group of drum rudiments. He positioned himself (and is rightfully considered as such) as the father of the rudimentary theory.

In 1886, the head of the US Naval Orchestra, John Philip Sousa, wrote his didactic work Trumpet and Drum, a book of instructions for the field trumpet and drum. Being a manual for military drummers, it also became widespread among civilians, as it contained a complete set of rudiments at that time.

Since 1933, the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (“The National Association of Rudimental Drummers”, abbreviated NARD) originates. This organization was created to promote rudiments and integrate them into the education system. NARD decided to position 26 major rudiments, divided into two tables, each containing 13 rudiments.

Listen to a duel of Swiss drums from the movie "drum roll"

Timpani ( timpani)

Litavry- a percussion musical instrument with a certain pitch. They are a system of two or more (up to seven) metal pot-shaped bowls, the open side of which is covered with leather or plastic, and Bottom part may have a hole.

Timpani are an instrument of very ancient origin. In Europe, timpani, similar in shape to modern ones, but with a constant pitch, became known already in the 15th century, and since the 17th century, timpani have been part of orchestras. Subsequently, a tension screw mechanism appeared, which made it possible to rebuild the timpani. In military affairs, they were used in heavy cavalry, where they were used as transmission of signals for combat control, in particular, to control the formation of cavalrymen. Modern timpani can be tuned to a specific pitch using a dedicated pedal.

At the end of 2014, timpani made by Antonio Stradivari were discovered in the Vatican vaults. The name of Stradivari is associated with the general public, first of all, with violins, however, now we know for certain that there are Stradivari drums, presented in the image for this note.

The timpani body is a cauldron-shaped bowl, most often made of copper, and sometimes of silver, aluminum, or even fiberglass. The main tone of the instrument is determined by the size of the body, which varies from 30 to 84 cm (sometimes even smaller). A higher pitch is obtained with smaller instrument sizes.

A membrane made of leather or plastic is pulled over the body. The diaphragm is held in place by a hoop, which in turn is secured with screws used to adjust the pitch of the instrument. Modern timpani are equipped with pedals, pressing which easily rearranges the instrument and even allows you to play small melodic parts. Usually, each of the drums of an instrument has a range from a fifth to an octave.

The tone of the instrument is determined by the shape of the body. So the hemispherical shape creates more ringing sounds, and parabolic - more deaf. The quality of the cabinet surface also affects the timbre. Timpani sticks are wooden, reed or metal rods with round tips, usually covered with a soft felt. Timpani can create a variety of timbres and sound effects by using sticks with tips made of different materials: leather, felt, or wood.

Timpani playing consists of two basic techniques: single beats and tremolo. Any of the most complex rhythmic constructions are formed from single beats, using both one and several timpani. Tremolo, which can reach tremendous frequency and resemble thunderclaps, can also be played on one or two instruments. On the timpani, it is possible to achieve huge gradations of sound - from a barely audible pianissimo to a deafening fortissimo. Among the special effects are the muffled sound of timpani covered with pieces of soft cloth.

Listen to the Timpani Concert

Adufe)

- a large square tambourine in Portugal of Moorish origin with two membranes, inside which beans or small stones are often poured, which rattle during the game. The membrane is made from goatskin and is 12 "to 22" (30 to 56 cm) in size. Traditionally, this tambourine is played by women during religious processions and during regional music festivals.

In 1998, at the World Expo in Lisbon, the musician José Salgueiro presented giant adufes, which were a great success.

In Spain, a similar instrument is called pandeiro cuadrado(square pandeiro). Unlike Adufe, they hit him not only with a hand, but also with a stick. More recently, this instrument almost disappeared - it was played by three village women. Currently, it is played professionally by the Spaniard Ales Tobias and Kirill Rossolimo.

Interestingly, the Cairo Museum contains a real rectangular double-sided frame drum from the 14th century BC, which was found in the tomb of a woman named Hatnofer.

Listen to the rhythm for adufe

Listen to the orchestra with square pandeiro

In fact, it is one rim, the sounding part of the instrument is metal cymbals or bells fixed directly on it. There is also a type of membrane tambourine.

Tambourine has been known since time immemorial. It can be found in the South of France and in India, in Mexico and Central Africa, on the islands of Polynesia and in Asia - in a word, various peoples have paid tribute to this wonderful instrument. But the tambourine originally originates from Provence and the Basque Land, where, as Gevart said, it was used in combination with a homemade pipe.

Among all musical instruments, the percussion group is the most numerous. And this is not surprising, because percussion musical instruments are the most ancient on earth. Their history dates back almost from the very dawn of mankind. The most primitive of them are either very simple to manufacture, or do not require any processing at all. In fact, every object of the surrounding world can serve as such a tool.

So the first percussion instruments in the world were the bones of animals, tree branches, and later, for playing music, people began to use the items of kitchen utensils that had appeared by that time - cauldrons, pots, and so on.

Percussion musical instruments of different nations

Due to the above circumstances: simplicity of manufacture and history, rooted in antiquity, percussion instruments have become so widespread that they have penetrated literally every corner of our planet. Each nation has its own instruments, the sound of which is produced with the help of blows of one kind or another.

Of course, the number of percussion instruments for each individual nation depends on the nature of its musical culture. For example, in the countries of Latin America, where ethnic music is distinguished by a variety of rhythms, complexity of rhythmic patterns, percussion instruments are an order of magnitude more than, for example, in our country, in Russia, where folk song art often does not imply any instrumental accompaniment. But still, even in countries where the melodic principle prevails over the rhythmic one in folk music, there are still their own unique percussion instruments.

Percussion instrument percussion

Some drums eventually formed a single whole, which is now called a drum kit. Drum kits are typically used in various types of pop music: rock, jazz, pop, and so on. Instruments that are not included in the classical composition of the drum kit are called percussions, and the musicians who play them are called percussionists.

Such instruments, as a rule, have a pronounced national character... The most widespread today are percussion musical instruments of the peoples of Latin America and Africa.

Name history

The very name of the musical instrument "percussion" has Latin roots. It comes from the root meaning "hit, hit". It is interesting that this word is familiar not only to musicians and music lovers, but also to doctors. Percussion in the medical literature is called a method of diagnosing diseases by tapping on the tissues of the body and analyzing the sound they make. It is known that the sound of a blow to a healthy organ differs from the sound of a blow to a diseased organ.

Musical percussion is also associated with beats that resonate with a person, albeit not through direct impact, as in medicine.

Percussion musical instrument classification

A great variety of percussion instruments that do not belong to the set of the classical drum kit, over time, began to need to be systematized. Instruments of this kind are usually divided into those tuned to certain musical notes and noise instruments - that is, those whose sound does not have a certain pitch. The former include the xylophone, metallophone, timpani and others. All kinds of drums - percussion of the second kind.

According to the sound source, musical percussion instruments are divided into:

1. Membranophones - that is, those in which the sound comes from the vibrations of a membrane stretched over some kind of base, such as in a tambourine.
2. Idiophones - where the sound source is the entire body of the instrument, or its integral parts, such as a triangle, metallophone and the like.

In turn, idiophones are classified into wood and wood.

An interesting fact is that the piano also belongs to musical instruments of the percussion genus, since in this instrument the sound is obtained by striking the strings with hammers. An ancient musical instrument such as cymbals also belongs to string percussion.

Exotic Instruments

Percussion in contemporary music

Despite their national roots, percussion instruments are used not only in ethnic music. In many modern jazz orchestras and rock bands, in addition to the drummer playing the traditional kit, there is also a percussionist.

Thus, the rhythm section of the ensemble is noticeably enriched due to the richness of the percussion parts. Samples of percussion musical instruments are also used in various areas of electronic music. The drum kit in a symphony orchestra is called orchestral percussion.

Percussion kits

For those who want to try playing percussion as an amateur musician, or for those who are professional in the field, both standalone percussion instruments and ready-made kits are available for sale.

For the youngest musicians, you can find children's percussion kits in music stores, and they are often sold in regular toy stores. Sometimes these instruments are completely identical to real percussions, except for their reduced size.

Famous percussionists

• Airto Moreira - Famous for his collaboration with jazz music classic, Miles Davis. His solo projects are also known. He contributed to the spread of small noise percussion instruments in European jazz.
• Karl Perazzo is the percussionist of the famous band Santana.
• Arto Tunçboyaciyan is a vocalist, composer and percussionist. Known for its ability to get first-class sound from any object at hand.