The Tabla Drum Master!
May 26th, 2010
I had no idea what a tabla drum was until last night, when I went to see the touring trio Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Hussain at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. I had enjoyed listening to Bela’s bluegrass banjo and Edgar’s classical cello in the past, so the addition of the Zakir’s worldly tabla was an interesting, but pleasant surprise. So after listening to this Indian native entertain a crowd for two hours with his drumming skills, I had to find out more about that instrument. Before you read on, take a moment to listen and see Zakir’s mastery on the table drums here.
As you probably noticed from the video, tablas are hand drums that require extensive use of the fingers and palms in different configurations to make for a wide variety of upbeat sounds (I must say that the speed at which Zakir is able to coordinate his fingers and palms to make rhythmic percussion is quite impressive!) There are two drums in a set of tablas. The smaller one is called a dayan and has a high pitch tone. The larger one is called a bayan and has a much deeper bass tone. The combination of the two drums makes for a great mix of melodies and a fascinating performance.
Although there has been some debate over the actual origin of the instrument, it holds deep north Indian roots dating back to as early as the 13th century. The drums are still commonly played today, so may be we all will have a chance to tap our hands to the beats of Indian performers during our trip!
-Emily Schaapveld
Entry Filed under: 2010 Student Blogs, India, Misc.
4 Comments Add your own
1. Phil Hamer | June 1st, 2010 at 1:02 pm
What would Indian music be without its percussion? Indian dance certainly wouldn’t have its flavor and color, that’s for sure. I hope we do get to see some live music being performed. I love Indian music and I love Indian percussion. I do have some experience with Tablas, I had a roommate from Pakistan who had a set that he liked to tap and sing on. It really does have a unique and varied sound.
2. Chase Janvrin | June 2nd, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Thanks for sharing this Emily, I’m disappointed that I had to miss that show! I’ve long been fascinated by Indian instruments, ever since my parents incessant playing of the Beatles, post sitar discovery. The sounds, harmony’s, and styles of music that can be so different, yet still find a place in ‘American’ music is enthralling. I think this stylistic integration can be found in business as well. As cultures become more familiar with each other, I think it’s only natural, and inevitable, that they will discover tools and techniques that they like and apply to their own way of doing things. Whether in music, or in business, I think this benefits us all.
3. Tim Lynds | June 2nd, 2010 at 9:47 pm
When I watched the video link I knew I had heard this drum before, but I never thought about what it was. I opened up iTunes and started to search through some songs where I thought I remember hearing it. I found one - The Elephunk Theme by The Black Eyed Peas. The song uses samples from what sounds like an old Indian song as a base. It’s not my favorite song but it brings the drum into the context of more modern American music.
Thanks for the post. I will now always know a Tabla drum when I hear one.
4. Catherine Kristensen | June 4th, 2010 at 10:06 am
The tabla is an intriguing instrument. My husband (who is a drummer) says it is one of the hardest instruments to play. The word tabla sounds almost Spanish or Italian. I was interested to learn that the word tabla comes from the Arabic word, tabl, which means drum.
I read about the construction of these instruments. They are typically made with goat or cow skins, which is common of most drums - hence the euphemism for drumming: “playing the skins.” The more interesting part of the construction of these instruments is the Syahi. The Syahi is a tuning paste made of water, flour and iron filings that is applied to the head of the drum. That is the black dot you can see on the top of the drum in pictures of tablas. The precise construction and shaping of this paste causes the drum’s natural overtones. The variety of tonal possibilities unique to this instrument are a result of the Syahi. There is an amazing amount of skill required to properly construct a Syahi, which can result in the high costs associated with purchasing them.
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