Tonbak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A tonbak (also known as tombak, donbak, dombak and zarb, in Persian تمبک) is a goblet drum from Persia (modern Iran). It is considered the principal percussion instrument of Persian music.
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[edit] Construction
The tonbak has five parts:
- Skin
- Body
- Throat
- Small Opening
- Large Opening
The skin is usually glued to the body. Goat or lamb skin is the most popular material for the skin. The body of a tonbak is made of mulberry wood which gives it its distinctive sound. The body may be decorated with carved furrows. The throat is almost cylindrical and it is connected from top to the body. The throat and the small opening together are in the form of a trumpet. The large opening is in the top and is covered by the skin. A tombak player holds the drum diagonally across his lap with the wider section usually over his right side and plays it with the fingers and the palm of the hands.
[edit] Culture
Goblet-shaped drums are played in different regions of Asia, East Europe and Africa. Although there are some similarities among all goblet drums, the techniques for playing the tonbak are different from most other goblet drums of the world. The modern tonbak described in this page is most commonly associated with the music of Iran.
The most common measures associated with the tombak are a 6/8,2/4,4/4,5/8,7/8,8/16. Today the melodic beat of the drum does not merely work as a meter but is usually woven into the music like any other instrument. The tombak was not considered a soloist instrument until the pioneering work of Ostad Hossein Tehrani in the 1950's as well as innovations of Ostad Nasser Farhangfar and others. Modern players are expanding the technique of playing the tombak exponentially. Examples include Madjid Khaladj [1], Navid Afghah, Pejman Hadadi.
- CD by Navid Afghah: Temple of wooden figures
- CD by Navid Afghah: Genesis
- CD by Madjid Khaladj: Infinite Breath - Nafas (Ba Music Records, 2006) [2]
- CD by Mohammad Esma'ili: Tombak Course Mahoor Inst.
- CD by Daryush Zargari: "Saz-e Tanha" Mahoor Inst.
and
- DVD OF TOMBAK / Madjid Khaladj All Regions | Coproduction : Le Salon de Musique & Ecole de Tombak | Langues : français, anglais, espagnol | Duration : 172 minutes | book 80 pages (French / English.)| EDV 937 CV 054 | Read More : [3]
[edit] See also
Description:
The Tombak or Zarb. Is the Chief percussion instrument of Iranian Art music. This is a one faced drum Where (he whole upper half is wider Than the lower. It is carved of single Block of wood! And it body is hallow, Open at lower end covered with a Sheepskin membrane across the Upper part. An average Tombak is 43 cm high with Playing face of 28 diameter A Tombak player holds the drum Diagonally across his lap with the Wider section usually over his right Side and it is played with the fingers And the palm of the hands. Bahman Mobayyen has developed a Variety of techniques to produce different sounds on the single face of This old instrument of Iranian Art music. The tick Bass sound is known As TOM. This sound comes from striking the centre of the face with the Whole hand. The snap, dry sound, is known as BAK and is produced by Striking the face of the rim. Bahman Mobayyen was born in Tehran, 1963. He started studying The TOMBAK and undertook advanced studies at the center for Traditional Music and Art in Tehran, Iran with great masters of Tombak including, Jamshid Mohebbi, Mohammad Akhavan and Naser Farhang far He played percussion for 1- Film Music ,Arabian Nights, Natacha Atlas,(Singer). (Composer Richard Harrvy) 2- World Music for singers, Robbie Williams, Neneh cherry, Maxi jazz and so on. Through his performance And teaching, took a virtuoso approach Towards Tombak playing with the use of western notation in Iran and Other parts of the world especially in Germany where he lives, Tombak is Becoming increasingly popular now, Bahman Mobayyen is one of The most experienced Tombak teachers To day and is teaching at established musical centers around Germany
[edit] External links
Instruments - Iranian Percussion by Madjid Khaladj [4]
