Meaning and fascination of drumming in different cultures

Rhythmic treasures from all over the world: the ingenuity of different drum traditions

From the African Djembe to the Brazilian snare - you can discover with us the diverse sound of the percussion and striking rhythms from all over the world.

African drum traditions

Africa is known for its rich and diverse drum traditions . Over the years, the various African cultures have developed an impressive variety of drums that vary in their shape, size and sound quality.

The Djembe is probably one of the most famous African drums and comes from West Africa . It consists of a wooden body with animal skin and is traditionally played by hand. Another popular drum is the Bougarabou , also known as "Talking drum" .

This drum has a slim shape and can create different pitches by adapting the clamping system to play complex rhythms.

Although there are many different types of African drums, they all share a common goal: to celebrate the rhythm and celebrate the community with other people.

Origin and variety of African rhythms

First of all: Traditional African music is a blurred term for music that is played in Subsahara Africa and is considered a little or not at all influenced by outside the region. The word “traditional” implies historically unchanged African music that differs from the influences since the European colonial period.

However, Africa's music has always been shaped by regional cultural exchange and further development and often not assigned to individual ethnic groups. Such a distinction negates the strong influence of Arabic music and excessively emphasizes western cultural import from a euro -centered perspective.

The Cape Verde Islands' colonial -age music was shaped by South American, Caribbean, Portuguese and West African influences, while Madagascar's older music was first influenced by Southeast Asia. Overall, it turns out that traditional African music was and is always in change.

African music is fundamentally characterized by repetitions that enable the audience to immerse yourself in trance -like conditions and to fully understand the music. Music plays a central role in all events, including everyday activities, and a festival cannot take place if the corresponding musician is missing.

African drums have the amazing ability to " sing" and to " speak" . The musical patterns (so -called patterns ) that they create have often arisen from language.

In order to be understandable and sensible, the individual strokes of a rhythm must vary clearly in their pitch and timbre. The so -called "talking drums", for which mastery is often required for years of training, can even transmit entire words and sentences.

Historical research clearly shows that African music cultures are subject to continuous changes. For this reason, the term "traditional African music" only a romanticized idea of ​​the West and is used today to increase the market value of African music in the west - although this has no factual background.

Meaning of the djembe for traditional African drums

The Djembé drum has its roots in the old west of Africa and has been known since the 13th century when the Mali kingdom was created. The fascinating instrument consists of a hollowed -out chalice that is covered with an animal skin and belongs to the family of membranophones .

Due to its shape and one -sided covering, it is also referred to as a simple chalice drum . Although it is not known when the Djembé appeared for the first time, it remains an important part of African music and culture to this day.

The word 'Djembé' is made up of the two parts 'dje' , which means that people in Mali mean that people come together and 'be' , which means. This makes the meaning of the name clear. The Djembé instrument brings everyone together and unites them.

At the Bamana it is also said: "Anke Dje, Anke Be" . This means something like "let us come together to achieve uniform communication" .

In a broader sense, the name Djembé also refers to gatherings for weddings, funerals or births as well as many other occasions in which people meet to maintain community and understanding. These are the traditional social meetings in West Africa, where there are almost always djembé music as well as dance and singing.

The origin of the extremely complex and multi-layered Djembé rhythms is mainly due to the Malinké people , who are largely based in the countries of Mali and Guinea.

West Africa is often considered the origin of the rhythm. The people in this region have a close connection to nature and are deeply integrated into the rhythmic world. Your ability to be rhythmic enables you to combine your breathing and movement harmoniously.

In the following video there is a brief insight and shows some sources of inspiration for African Djembé rhythms:

Indian tabla: The art of hand drumming

The Indian tabla is a fascinating example of the diversity and complexity of the hand drum traditions . These drums consist of a pair of different sizes, each played with the fingers and hands.

The larger drum is called Dayan and the smaller Bayan . Each drum has a different pitch and timbre so that complex rhythms can be produced. The tabla is used in many music genres, such as classical Indian music or fusion music .

The tabla needs a lot of practice and skill to master it. One player must be able to do various strokes on both drums to create a rhythm. There are many techniques such as roles, flams or double strokes that can be used.

Traditionally, wooden tablets were made, but there are now also versions with plastic or metal frames. It is important to ensure that you buy high -quality instruments, since inferior materials can affect the sound.

Accessories such as bags or stands are also available and make it easier to play the tabla. It is also important to ensure that you pay attention to quality when buying accessories.

If you are interested in playing the Indian tabla, there are many opportunities for training: workshops at experienced players or teachers on site as well as online courses are just a few of them.

Overall, the Indian tabla is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating hand drums in the world. With its complex rhythm and the ability to produce a variety of sounds, it is a real highlight in the world of percussion instruments.

History and structure of the Indian tabla drums

The tabla is often regarded as the queen of drums and percussion instruments and is the most popular rhythm instrument in India. It consists of two drums, the Bayan (large bass drum) and the Dayan, which are almost always played together.

The term "tabla" can indicate both the couple of the two drums and only the dayan alone, which is sometimes also called tabla.

Both drums have a body that is closed at the bottom. The upper end is usually covered with a fur made of goat leather. There is a second fur ceiling (Kani) on the edge of the basic fur. In the center of the fur is a black area called that gives the instrument its characteristic sound and enables a variety of sounds and modulations.

It requires a lot of skill to mix this in order to apply it in a paste - consisting mainly of rice flour and iron shavings - which can be multi -layered (up to 8 layers).

When playing, both drums are put on rings (Bira) to give them stability.

There are numerous views of the origin of the tabla. Some believe that it comes from the Pakhavaj, while others claim that the tabla was introduced to classical Indian music by Amir Khusrau in the 13th century, similar to Sitar and other instruments. This theory also says that the tabla came from the distant west.

The term "tabla" can be attributed "tablet" The first scientific description of an instrument that is very similar to today's tabla dates from 1808.

In the 50 years before this date, many paintings in the Mogul-style paintings show these couples of instruments in northwest india: cylindrical wooden pairs in the Punjab and hemispherical metal or sound pairs in the Delhi-Radjasthan area.

It seems to be that these two variants were combined at some point in the middle or second half of the 18th century: the unchangeable Punjabi "Tabla" was chosen for the right hand; The variably voiced Delhi "Duggi" was used for the left hand.

It is believed that several changes on the instrument were made between 1750 and 1850. The tabla used today is probably not older than 70 to 100 years old.

Further information on the Indian tabla:

• Tarang - information about the tabla
• Yogawiki - The Tabla

Playing techniques and rhythmic structures

The fingers play with the fingers of both hands while lying on fabric rings. It offers a wide range of sounds.

Her music is used primarily in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in both popular and religious music.

The Bayan is responsible for playing bass part As a rule, the Bayan body consists of chrome -plated copper.

To play the Bayan, the index finger and the middle finger alternate in their function or both fingers are used at the same time. The palm rests slightly on the edge of the fur or changes the pitch with gentle pressure on the fur.

Taiko - Japanese drums with strength and expression

The Japanese drum tradition, also known as Taiko , is one of the oldest and most fascinating drum traditions worldwide.

The large wooden drums are played with great passion and energy by the Taiko groups. The sound of the taikos is strong and powerful and is often accompanied by other instruments such as flutes or shamis.

A special technique when playing the taikos are the different strokes on different parts of the drum, such as the bass or snare. These create a multifaceted rhythm that captivates the audience.

Another highlight during appearances are often the synchronized movements of the players who add a visual component to music. Even if the playing of Taikos was originally only reserved for men, women have also successfully established themselves in this tradition for several years.

However, the size and severity of the drums are still a challenge - both for men and for women. For everyone interested in this fascinating art form, there are now numerous workshops and courses as well as accessories such as sticks or bags for transporting the drums.

Children in particular can develop their creativity by playing on the big wooden drums and at the same time train their feeling of rhythm . Of all Japanese instruments, Taiko is probably the easiest to learn and the most popular. It can be played at any age and has a stress -reducing effect.

If you want to dive deeper into the world of Japanese drums, you will find numerous pages on the Internet with information on various Taiko groups as well as advertisements for concerts and workshops.

Background knowledge of the Japanese Taiko culture

The Taiko, a name for the "large drum" , is more referred to by the Japanese as Wadaiko (whereby the "WA" is the pre -iling for everything Japanese). There are archaeological excavations that show that it existed in the Jômon era (-131 BC/4 BC).

The oldest drums that were built in the style of Taiko come from China. From there, this drum type came to Korea. In the Kofun period, the residents of the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese archipelago were not yet separated and the taiko also came to the Japanese archipelago due to the far-reaching exchange of cultures.

Originally, it was probably used in shamanistic rituals to conjure up different Kami, especially Susanoo, the god of storm and life.

Already in China, drums were used in temples instead of bells or gongs and its instruments followed by the import of Buddhism (in the 4th to 6th centuries) to Japan.

The samurai recognized the effectiveness of the Taiko drums and let them play before an attack on them: on the one hand, this should murter the opponent psychologically and on the other hand put their own fighters into a blood rush -a kind of ecstatic obsession -which means that their own battlefield is entered by God.

In the Sengoku period (1467-1591), Taiko was used to encourage soldiers during battles and synchronize their heartbeats with the rhythm of the drum in order to increase their strength.

Even then, the Taiko was not only a military instrument, but also a source of the rhythm in everyday life. She signaled the return of the hunters to the village and the approach of typhoons.

Even today you can still hear the Taiko for festivities, sumo tournaments or as an accompaniment of Kabuki or Nô performances.

Düsseldorf - The epicenter of Taiko in Germany

In recent years, Düsseldorf developed into the center of a growing community of Japanese residents who also hold their traditions up in the distance.

in the Edo house with its temple and Zen garden. At the annual Japan Day , the Far Eastern culture is celebrated, from artistic Ikebana flower arrangements to origami folding works of art, classic Kimono samples and demonstrations in the samurai village and modern manga art.

The appearances of the Japanese drummer, which the audience is waiting for again and again, are particularly popular.

Latin American percussion streak: Conga, Bongo, Timbales

Latin American percussion is a fascinating topic that includes a variety of instruments. A trio of conga , bongo and timbales is particularly popular and has its origin in Cuban music .

These three drums have their own special sounds and are often used together to create complex rhythms. The Conga is the largest of the three drums and is usually placed on the floor, while the bongo drum sits on a stand in pairs.

The timbales are smaller drums with different pitches, which are usually positioned on a stand.

Together they create a multifaceted richness of sound and can be played both individually and in a group. If you are interested in this type of percussion, you should definitely search for accessories online.

There are many online shops that offer a category for Latin American percussion instruments-from drums to suitable accessories such as rackets or bags for storage.

For children there are special drums with low volume and adapted sizes.

An introduction to the Latin American percussion

Latin American music is inseparable from the rhythm and the associated instruments , in particular the Latin American percussion, which gives this music its characteristic sound.

The term "Latin Percussion" describes a diverse selection of musical instruments that belong to the family of percussion, membrane, lamellophone and/or idiophone instruments . The musicians who play these percussion instruments are referred to as percusionistas .

Latin America's music varies strongly regionally and the Caribbean space differs both in mentality and in instrumentation from the mainland of South and Central America. Nevertheless, these countries and their culture share a common story.

This means that the culture - including its music - is a merger of three fundamentally different basic cultures:

• the local-indian,
• The Spanish-Portuguese
• and the African.

Several imperies (Spain, England, Holland, France and the USA) have left their mark in Latin America.

Likewise, African nations have had their influence through the slave trade. Different rhythms from Africa have been handed down to this day. The gathering of various musical structures, play habits and ways of thinking created an abundance of shapes and diversity in the sound.

Typical percussion instruments from Latin America

The percussion instruments can be categorized as follows. There are different types of drums, for example bongos (a few simple drums), timbal (consisting of two equal single drums that are positioned on a three -footed frame), congas (single drums), Pandeíros (small hand drums similar to the tamburine) and surdo (drum with a metal body) and many others.

The drums vary in size and are mostly kept between the knees and beaten with the fingers. This also includes improvised impact instruments such as fish boxes, wooden boxes to claves (sound wood).

Shaking rattles creates a striking penetrating rattling noise, which often forms the basic rhythm of various dances. They differ both in their construction and in the material used, such as bamboo, metal or plastic. Examples include maracas , tubo (chills) and chocalho .

Marimba is an important musical instrument that has its origin in Africa and belongs to the family of the wooden stable . The most frequently used design consists of a frame on which different lengths of board are attached -similar to a xylophone -, the lower ends of which are made of wooden resonance bodies.

These boards are brought to the percussion blades by using two slags with rubber balls. The Marimba can be found in all Latin American countries and is even the national instrument Guatemalas.

In addition, humming pots ( Cuíca ) and music arches ( Birimbao ) are also used in the Latin American percussion.

Rhythm cultures from Cuba, Brazil or Colombia

The use of percussion instruments is particularly emphasized in the dances with several rhythms. These dances are mainly played in a 2/4 or 4/4 stroke and can either only be interpreted instrumental or with vocals.

They are mostly traditional folk dances that consist of a mixture of Spanish, African and Creole elements and occur in various regional variants.

An example of a Mestician-Africaribical folk dance is the cumbia . This dance can be both sung and listed purely instrumental. Typical rhythmic accompanying instruments are maracas and Tamboril . Tamborile are narrow drums with two skins.

Maracas are a kind of musical instruments that are widespread and shaken. They consist of two similarly large balls that are filled with stones, sand or seeds and have a handle. They create sounds by shaking rhythmic shaking.

The musicians who play maracas are called maraqueros. These instruments are also used Merengue There are many regional variants of dance with their own names.

A slower variant of dance is widespread on the Atlantic coast of Colombia and Venezuela. In addition to the maracas, small drums called Cajas used here that can be carried around the body using straps or cords as well as various scraping idiophones such as Guacharacas.

Guacharacas (also known as guiros or "sambagurks" ) consist of bamboo tubes with crossers and create sounds by rubbing a stick along these grooves. Another scraping instrument for rhythmic accompaniment is the Brazilian reco-reco .

Bodhrán - the Irish frame drum

The Bodhrán is a frame drum from Ireland that has achieved a lot of attention in recent years. With its characteristic bass and snare sound, it has become an integral part of Irish music tradition.

The drum consists of a frame made of wood or metal and a membrane that is traditionally made of goat skin. Due to its simple construction and its diverse sound spectrum, the Bodhrán is suitable for all types of music styles, from traditional Irish tunes to modern fusion sounds.

There are also numerous accessories such as sticks, bags and textbooks to make it easier to play the Bodhrán.

Role of the Bodhrán in the Irish music scene

The Bodhrán is a kind of frame drum that occurs in different variations around the world. Although your origin is not clearly clarified, there is obviously a connection to the drum . So far, however, no proof has been found that it has come to Ireland .

The word "Bodhrán" comes from the Irish word "Bodhar" , which means deaf, dull or dull. It is also associated with hollow tones and the sound of a drum. Interestingly, the English word "to Bother" from "Bodhar" has been derived since the Middle Ages. Nowadays the word Bodhar is no longer used.

The earliest evidence of the use of the word Bhodhrán comes from a medical text of the 15th century, in which a bloated stomach is described with the sound of a drum (Bhodhrán). Old lexicon entries also show that the word Bodhrán was already in use before 1827.

A frame drum can be seen on illustrations of an Irish painter named Maclise from around 1850, in which the left hand of the player touches the fur and apparently the right movement performs the typical movement.

Further studies (see Irland.de - Bodhrán - the unusual frame drum ) have shown that some manufacturers of Bodhráns were based in some areas of Kerry in the 1920s. At that time, these were made not only for local musicians, but also for tourists, since the Bodhrán was already a popular souvenir at the time.

A first recording from 1927 is known on which you can hear flute and drum. However, it is unclear whether it is a Bodhrán with clamps or a tamburine.

In the past fifty years, their use has changed significantly as a musical instrument. This development went hand in hand with the development of traditional Irish music. While traditional music was mainly played for dancing until the 1950s, she developed into an art form on stage from the 1950s.

Sean O'riada played a significant role in this development and founded the Ceoltóirí Chualann precursor band of the still active ensembles The Chieftains together with the Ensemble Ceoltóirí Chualann.

Special features of playing the Bodhrán

Today's type of game has only developed in recent decades and this development is still advanced today. A deeply tuned fur allows the player to elicit many different tones compared to other frame drums.

In the case of a right -handed man, the right hand holds the tipper, which is also cipin , and carries out a unique rotary movement to create the rhythm.

Different pitches are generated with the left hand by touching the fur to different ways. The combination of right and left hand creates fascinating sounds and rhythm patterns. This complexity has grown continuously in the past four decades.

In the 1960s, only the open sound was steamed by putting on the hand on the fur; Then different pitches were added. The entire game became more nuanced, after all, drums and rhythm from other cultures were integrated.

Today you can even hear the Bodhrán as a bass instrument in Irish music with played bass runs.

Many see them as a mixture of drums and bass without losing their characteristic sounds and rhythms. However, there is also a risk of an exaggerated varied game that distracts from the actual music.

The Bodhrán remains an accompanying instrument ; It should underline the melody instead of overturning - because often less is more.

Drums - modern fusion of tradition and innovation

chlaga tubes offers a modern fusion between different drum traditions . This type of percussion instrument is equipped with several drums and percussion instruments that enable different sounds.

Elements from African rhythms, Latin American percussion and Japanese Taiko are often combined.

The result is a wealth of sound that is second to none. Snare drums and bass drums made of wood as well as djembe drums and bougarabous are particularly popular. Accessories such as drum sticks or pedals can also play an important role here.

Short history of drums as a modern form of the percussion instrument

Percussion instruments from which the drums were created have an ancient and diverse past. The oldest evidence of pelvis and drums range until the 7th century BC BC back. In old graves we find sculptures and paintings of drums and pools - created both by the Romans and the Egyptians.

The word Tamburin comes from the French word tambour , which itself has a multicultural origin. The word is derived from the Persian word tabῑr and the Arabic word ṭUbūl - in Moroccan tamburines we find the same wood as used snare drums

Drums can be found anywhere in the world and in every culture - so the history of these instruments must be really old.

Belongs were excavated from graves of the ancient Greeks because they thought they could keep evil spirits away. We also find paintings from pools that were used as an instrument for festivities.

The invention of the first bass drum pedal in 1887 by JR Olney was crucial for the development of drums. Subsequently, William F. Ludwig's first series product was made in 1899, while in the USA the so-called "no-drumming laws" were enacted, which forbidden to play their traditional hand drums.

This meant that African rhythmic music was cultivated with European and oriental impact instruments.

The first complete drums finally came onto the market in 1918 by the Ludwig Drum Corporation .

At that time there was no Hi-Hat machine and the pedal for the bass drum also headed for a small pool. At that time, the drums sets were "Jazz drums Saale I to III" . There were also simplified versions called Picadilly and Shimmy.

In 1927 there was already an extensive selection of drums on offer, including a case .

The history of the current Hi-Hat machine can be attributed to various people. Vic Berton will be the first to experiment with an increased “low boy” , but he failed to report this to a patent.

All sources agree that Papa Jo Jones is the first champion of Hi-Hat. He lifted the instrument to a new level and fully exploited his sound options. He also showed the other drummer how they can optimally use the Hi-Hat.

Through it, the "Time Keeping" relocated from the bass drum to the Hi-Hat, which has a significant contribution to the fact that the Hi-Hat takes a dominant place in the drum play today.

Further information on the history and style of drums:

• Brass Band Erschwil: drums
• Drum meeting: drums history and interesting facts
• Superprof: An overview of the history of drums

Classic orchestra - the foundation through the timpani

In the classic orchestra, the timpani the foundation and ensures rhythmic cohesion.

The large boiler drums are usually used in pairs and, thanks to their deep bass tones, offer a solid basis for the entire orchestra. It is the heartbeat of the orchestra .

The kettle timpani , a percussion instrument from the Fellklinger family, creates sounds by vibrating a membrane.

This timpani is usually hemispherical and is often made of copper. The upper end is covered with a plastic fur, while in high -class classic orchestras I still use skins or calves.

There are a total of 5 different sizes of timpani . As a rule, 4 different sizes are used for a standard configuration, each of which creates a different sound. Each individual timpani enables playing about 6 different tones by tensioning the membrane (eardrum).

The range of sound is set and, depending on the type of timpani, can be regulated with screws, pedals or rotary turmoil.

A higher tone is generated by a stronger voltage. In addition, the pitch can also be changed with the help of a mechanism ( pedal ) in or below the timpani.

The mallets for playing the timpani are made of wood or pipe materials. The head of the mallet is made of wood, felt or rubber, for example, and has a decisive influence on the sound character. If you play the timpani with a felt gala, they sound soft; On the other hand, a wooden mallet ensures a hard sound.

Playing takes place in the area near the edge on the player's side and ends shortly before the center. The further the middle is played, the louder the sound sounds. Occasionally, you place a cloth on the center and other areas for damping.

Pauken are mainly used in classic orchestral music and marching chapels; However, they are also used in pop music and folklore every now and then.

The role of the timpani in the classic orchestra

In contrast to drums, the importance of which is still relatively new as a solo instrument in the orchestra, the timpani has played an important role in orchestral music for centuries.

The origin of the timpani is in the military area . During campaigns, the timpani rode next to the general and gave signals for the attack or withdrawal. This profession enjoyed great reputation in the cavalry. The musical legacy of this historical meaning can still be found in the entire timpani literature.

From Bach to Beethoven to Strauss , the Pauke often symbolizes royal, military and ceremonial aspects together with the trumpet - be it in symphonies, oratorios or operas.

At Mahler's symphonies, we find the motive of the war in the rhythm of the timpani . The basic concept of these historical motifs remains through the whole music history - this is exactly what fascinates on this instrument.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

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