Talking drum, any of various types of drums that, by imitating the rhythm and the rise and fall of words in languages, are used as communication devices . Such drums occur in East and West Africa, Melanesia, and Southeast Asia.
What is the reason behind the name talking drum?
This hourglass shaped drum can be traced back to antiquity and is known by a variety of names including the gangan in Yoruba and doodo in Songhai. They are referred to as talking drums because they are able to be tuned to mimic the sound of human speech in terms of tone and accent such as emotion.
What was the original purpose of African drumming?
The djembe has been an integral part of spiritual and ritualistic life in West Africa for many generations. It was traditionally only played by griots, well respected high-class court musicians, who used it for story-telling: passing on important historical, religious and cultural information to future generations.
How does the talking drum work?
The talking drum is an hourglass-shaped drum from West Africa, whose pitch can be regulated to mimic the tone and prosody of human speech . It has two drumheads connected by leather tension cords, which allow the player to change the pitch of the drum by squeezing the cords between their arm and body.
What cultures use drums?
Use of drums across the world started to spread across Asia , reaching Japan, India, Middle East, Africa and southern Europe by 2nd century BC (most notably African drums that were introduced into ancient Greece and Rome).
What are the main features of African drumming?
- polyrhythms are created by layering different rhythms together.
- dynamics are changed depending on the force with which the drum is hit.
- dynamics are not written down on a score – the leader signals changes in dynamics during the performance.
What drums do Africans use?
The djembe is one of West Africa's best known instruments. This goblet-shaped drum is traditionally carved from a single piece of African hardwood and topped with an animal skin as a drumhead. In western understanding, the drum belongs to the membranophone class of instruments in the percussion family.
What are the 3 things that the wooden drum represents in African culture?
In Africa, drums hold a deeper, symbolic and historical significance. They herald political and social events attending ceremonies of birth, death and marriage . They spark courtships, they herald home-coming and going and they accompany religious rites and rituals, calling up ancestral spirits.
Which instrument is closest to the balafon?
The balafon, similar in appreance to a Europran Xylophone , dates back to the courts of the Mandinka Empire and is still a popular West African instrument today.
Why are talking drums important in West Africa?
Unlike other drums, talking drums are constructed and played in such a way that they mimic the tonal qualities of speech. This special quality made talking drums incredibly important as a means of communication for West African cultures throughout history.
Which country is famous for drums?
As mentioned earlier, the earliest drum ever to have been invented originates from East Asia (China) , however, drums are also extremely popular in South Asia and in particular countries, such as, India where drumming is often used to accompany folk dances, such as the bhangra.
Are drums in every culture?
Drums are found in nearly every culture in the world and have existed since before 6000 B.C. They have had ceremonial, sacred, and symbolic associations.
What do drums symbolize in Africa?
In much of Africa, drums are considered to symbolize and protect royalty , which often leads to their being housed in sacred dwellings. They can also be considered as a primitive telephone, since drums are also used to communicate with tribes that are miles and miles away.
Why is polyrhythm important in African drumming?
It provides a ‘mixer', allowing you to mute and fade different drums in a complex rhythmic cycle . Polyrhythm (literally meaning ‘many rhythms') is the layering of a number of different rhythms. African rhythms are usually simple on their own, but when combined together they produce a complex, polyrhythmic texture.
How is African drumming learned?
Music and dance are an integral part of the African culture. ... The music played by drum ensembles is very complex in rhythm and texture . The rhythms are not normally written down and are instead passed between people through aural tradition .
