History of Frame Drums
The family of percussion instruments consists of several interesting members. Perhaps one of the oldest members of this family is the frame drum. Believed to have originated in the ancient Middle East, India, and Rome, the frame drum has made its place in many civilizations across the world. Frame drums reached medieval Europe through Islamic culture.
Historically, drums apart from being a part of music played an important role in spiritual rituals. They are primarily musical instruments with a piece of animal skin stretched over a hollow body. Frame drums are generally round, made of wood with animal skin and sometimes metal rings or plates fitted into the drum to produce jingle. Usually it has a drumhead diameter greater than its depth. Some of them have mechanical tunings. They come in various sizes and have different versions existing in several parts of the world.
The frame drum was popular throughout the middle ages in all parts of Europe. The earliest evidence of the frame drum was during the Pre Christian period, especially the pagan Goddess period. Pictorial representation on the walls of Egyptian birthing temples illustrates priestesses playing frame drums. It is supposed that the hypnotic rhythm of the drum influences the breath and heart beat, charming the listener or drummer into a spell.
Some of the well known types of frame drums from different corners of the world are bendir from North Africa, bodhran from Ireland, tar, tambourine, mazhar from Egypt, daf from Iran, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan and Middle East, dayereh from Persia, Central Asia and balkan, pandiero from Brazil, kanjira from South India, tamborim from Brazil, riq from Egypt, and ramana from Thailand.
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