Tonbak
Encyclopedia
The tonbak or zarb (ضَرب or ضرب) is a goblet drum
from Persia (ancient Iran
). It is considered the principal percussion instrument of Persian music. The tonbak is normally positioned diagonally across the torso while the player uses one or more fingers and/or the palm(s) of the hand(s) on the drumhead, often (for a ringing timbre) near the drumhead's edge. Sometimes tonbak players wear metal finger rings for an extra-percussive "click" on the drum's shell. Tonbak virtuosi perform solos lasting ten minutes or more.
A sheepskin or goatskin head is stretched and secured with glue, tacks or both. The fairly wide top opening permits full bass tone as well as various treble tones (see below). Tonbaks with adjustable tuning have been produced experimentally but the head tension is normally fixed prior to performance with careful attention to the temperature and humidity. The player may heat or cool or dampen or dry the membrane to reach a desired fundamental pitch. The pitch can be raised somewhat during a performance by applying finger pressure but a variety of tapping and clicking timbres reduce overall focus on the drum's pitch. Typically, two or three clearly contrasting timbres (through varying finger placement or clacking of a ring against the drum shell) are played in an antiphonal style.
Goblet-shaped drums are played in different regions of Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa. Although similarities exist among all goblet drums, the techniques for playing the tonbak are different from most other goblet drums. The modern tonbak described in this page is most closely associated with the music of Iran
. The tonbak was not considered a virtuoso solo instrument until the pioneering work of Ostad Hossein Tehrani
in the 1950s, as well as innovations of Ostad Nasser Farhangfar and others. Modern tonbak players are exponentially expanding the techniques used in playing the instrument.
The most notable present day tonbak maker is Ostad (master) Helmi who still lives and works in Tehran Iran. Instruments in his studio are often intricately carved and laid with ornate Khatam-kari done by masters outside Tehran. His tonbaks often take two shapes, a "teez" (or sharp) hull where emphasis is placed on clear treble tones with an almost fully cynlindrical shell or the opposite bass hull where an exagerated convex round cavity results in a much deeper sound.
Goblet drum
The goblet drum is a hand drum with a goblet shape used mostly in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe....
from Persia (ancient Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
). It is considered the principal percussion instrument of Persian music. The tonbak is normally positioned diagonally across the torso while the player uses one or more fingers and/or the palm(s) of the hand(s) on the drumhead, often (for a ringing timbre) near the drumhead's edge. Sometimes tonbak players wear metal finger rings for an extra-percussive "click" on the drum's shell. Tonbak virtuosi perform solos lasting ten minutes or more.
Description
The Tonbak is a single-headed goblet drum about 43 cm in height with a 28 cm diameter head. Its shell is carved from a single block of (sometimes highly-figured, knotted or marbled) wood, maybe with a carved design or geometric pattern (such as furrows, flutes, diamonds and/or spirals--it is often a costly, heirloom-type or vintage musical instrument). At the bottom the shell is somewhat thicker than at the top for strength (since the drumhead adds to the strength at the top). The shell's wall thickness is approximately 2 cm. The throat is nearly cylindrical and connects the top (body) cavity to the hollow base (the throat itself, the interior of which forms the small opening).A sheepskin or goatskin head is stretched and secured with glue, tacks or both. The fairly wide top opening permits full bass tone as well as various treble tones (see below). Tonbaks with adjustable tuning have been produced experimentally but the head tension is normally fixed prior to performance with careful attention to the temperature and humidity. The player may heat or cool or dampen or dry the membrane to reach a desired fundamental pitch. The pitch can be raised somewhat during a performance by applying finger pressure but a variety of tapping and clicking timbres reduce overall focus on the drum's pitch. Typically, two or three clearly contrasting timbres (through varying finger placement or clacking of a ring against the drum shell) are played in an antiphonal style.
Goblet-shaped drums are played in different regions of Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa. Although similarities exist among all goblet drums, the techniques for playing the tonbak are different from most other goblet drums. The modern tonbak described in this page is most closely associated with the music of Iran
Music of Iran
The music of Iran has thousands of years of history, as seen in the archeological documents of Elam, one of the earliest world cultures,which was located in southwestern Iran...
. The tonbak was not considered a virtuoso solo instrument until the pioneering work of Ostad Hossein Tehrani
Hossein Tehrani
Hossein Tehrāni , was an Iranian musician and tonbak player. He is regarded as the father of the modern tonbak.-Early life:...
in the 1950s, as well as innovations of Ostad Nasser Farhangfar and others. Modern tonbak players are exponentially expanding the techniques used in playing the instrument.
The most notable present day tonbak maker is Ostad (master) Helmi who still lives and works in Tehran Iran. Instruments in his studio are often intricately carved and laid with ornate Khatam-kari done by masters outside Tehran. His tonbaks often take two shapes, a "teez" (or sharp) hull where emphasis is placed on clear treble tones with an almost fully cynlindrical shell or the opposite bass hull where an exagerated convex round cavity results in a much deeper sound.
Tonbaks in Kashmir
In Kashmir the tonbak is called Tombakh Naar and it is played during marriages. It is made of red clay instead of wood and animal skin on other end for percussion.See also
- Goblet drumGoblet drumThe goblet drum is a hand drum with a goblet shape used mostly in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe....
- Tonbak
- DununDununA Dunun is the generic name for a family of West African bass drums that developed alongside the djembe in the Mande drum ensemble...
- AshikoAshikoAn ashiko is a kind of drum shaped like a truncated cone and meant to be played with bare hands. The drum is played throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas....
- DjembeDjembeA djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....