Daf
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- For other meanings of DAF or daf of daff or similar, see DAF.
A daf is a large-sized tambourine used to accompany both popular and classical music in Iran, Azerbaijan and Kurdistan.
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[edit] Introduction
Daf has been played inside and outside of Iran for millenia and is often used in dhikrs, especially by Sufis.
[edit] History
The earliest evidence of Daf dates back to Sassanid Iran. The Pahlavi (an ancient Iranic language) name of Daf is dap. The word daf is therefore the arabicized form of the word dap. Some pictures of dap have been found in the paintings to be painted before the birth of Christ. The presence of Iranian dap in the reliefs of Bisotun is enlightening and is hard proof that dafs existed much before the invasion of Islam. Dafs were part of religious music in Iran much before Sufism. In fact, Iranian music has always been a spiritual tool. It shows that dafs played an important role in Mazdean Iran emerging as an important element during the Sassanian times during the Kâvusakân dynasty. The monuments of Bisotun are situated 25 kilometers from Kermanshah city. Also there is a kind of square frame drum in the stonecutting of Tagh-e-Bostan (another famous monument located 5 kilometers northeast from Kermanshah city). These frame drums were played in the ancient Middle East (chiefly by women in Kurd societies), Greece, and Rome and reached medieval Europe through Islamic culture.
Norouz (the first day of the Iranic New Year and the national festival of the Iranic peoples) and other festive occasions have been accompanied by dap in Sassanid periods (224 A.D. - 651 A.D.). In this period dap was played in order to accompany Iranian Classical Music. Undoubtedly daps were used within court to be played in the modes and melodies of traditional music. This traditional or classical music was created by Barbod the Great and was named the khosravani after the King Khosrow (Chosroes). Recent research reveals that these modes were used in the recital of Mazdean (Zoroastrian) prayers. The modes were passed down from master to student and are today known as the Radif and Dastgah system. Many of the melodies were lost, but most of those that remain date to the Sassanid period. Dafs can be played to produce highly complex and intense ryhthms, causing one to go under a trance and reach an ecstatic state and spiritually-high state. For this reason, they have always been connected with religion in Iran, again, much before Islam.
The Moors introduced Daf and other Middle Eastern musical instruments to Spain, and the Spanish adapted and promoted Daf and other musical instruments (such as the guitar) in medieval Europe. In the 15th century, daf was only used in Sufi ceremonies; the Ottomans reintroduced it to Europe in 17th century.
The art of daf playing in [Eastern Kurdistan] and other parts of Iran has reached us by the effort of Iranian Sufis; especially in 20th century by the late Sayyed Baha-al-Din Shams Ghorayshi (1872-1947), Ostad Haj Khalifeh Karim Safvati (1919-…), Ostad Haj Khalifeh Mirza Agha Ghosi (1928-…), Mohi-al-Din Bolbolani (1929-…), Sayyed Mohammad Shams Ghorayshi (1930-…) and Masha-Allah Bakhtiyari (1940-…).
It is fortunate that daf still functions as an important part of Kurdish and Persian art music (traditional or classical music) as it did in ancient times. It successfully encourages many young Iranians to take up learning this ancient instrument.
A thin band made of hard wood, covered with goatskin on one side. It can also have rings or small cymbals along the rim. In these regions, the daff is held with both hands at shoulder height. Tones of various depth and colours are played by hitting different spots on the skin with the fingers. There is also an Oriental technique of leaning the daff against the knees. The daff is a percussion instrument with a soft, deep tone. It is suitable for playing indoors and to accompany singers and players on the tambura, violin, oud, saz and other Oriental instruments.
[edit] Dajre
An instrument that is used to upkeep the rhythm of the music.
The membrane is made of goatskin stretched over a wooden ring. Along the edge of the dajre there are several pairs of loosely attached metal disks, which produce short crisp sounds as the player strikes the dajre with the wrist and the fingers.
Traditionally, the dajre is a female instrument. It is sometimes used on festive occasions.
Sources :
- Daf (tambour mystique) par Madjid Khaladj - Anthologie des rythmes iraniens / Buda Musique - CD volume 2
- Nafas/ Infinite Breath : Madjid Khaladj (Daf, Dayreh, Tombak, Zang, Zurkhaneh..) / CD Ba Music Records
