Music
As long as I remember, music was part of daily life in our house and I cannot remember
ending my day without spending at least an hour listening to what my Dad calls "the
good music". Despite of the close bond with music, I always struggle to find an instrument
which I really like and willing to play. The problem was I couldn't decide between
the melody and the rhythm, because I enjoy both. It took me almost 30 years to find
an instrument that I can relate myself to and enjoy playing it. Finally, I fell in
love with the traditional Persian frame drum, "Daf", and started to learn the basic
strokes and finger patterns from my musician/geologist friend "Moetamed Samani".
After a year, I felt that I need to study Persian and Middle Eastern rhythms more
vigorously and improve my skills by receiving more professional training. In 1996,
maestro "Masoud Habibi" -
Studying of rhythm for many years gave me the courage to try other instruments and discover their potentials for creating rhythms with different colors.
Instruments
Daf
All photos in this page are by Maryam Hooshvar
Daf is a Persian frame drum which mainly played in the western province of Kurdestan. Different types of this instrument are also played in the east and south of Iran. The frame is made out of wood in different width, thickness and diameter. The frame diameter varies from 40 to 75 centimeter and width normally is something around 5 to 7 centimeters. The drum head in traditional instruments is made out of animal skin (sheep, goat or even fish) but the synthetic drum heads are become more popular due to their sound stability. This instrument has a set of iron or brass chains to create more sound versatility.
Audio Coming Soon
Dayereh
Dayereh in Persian language means circle. This instrument is widely played in Iran
but is very well recognized in northwestern part of Iran (East and West Azarbaidjan
provinces) and its sound is one of the main components of Azeri music. Dayereh is
smaller than Daf and its diameter is around 25 to 30 centimeters and because of the
smaller diameter (and also width, normally 3-
Click on the icon to listen to Dayereh played by me.
Dammam is a cylindrical Persian drum which is dominantly played in the southern Iran, especially in Boushehr. The body is normally made of wood or metal sheet and the drum heads are goat skin. The drum heads are secured by cords made out of palm fiber. These cords and are also used to tune the instrument as well. Dammam is played either by wooden stick or by hand and is one of the essential instruments which have been used during the religious ceremonies.
Audio Coming Soon
Dammam
Naghareh is a kettledrum which played in different regions in Iran and comes in different shapes and sizes. In northern part of Iran and in Gilan province this instrument is known as "Desarkotan" which is a kettledrum made of ceramic and covered with cow or boar skin. The drum head is secured either by cotton cord or by catgut. Wooden sticks are used to play this instrument.
Audio Coming Soon
Naghareh
Inspired by Nigerian Udu, "Frudu" is invented by Farbod Yadollahi, an Iranian musician and researcher. Frudu is made of two ceramic jugs connected together. Each jug has three openings, one at the top and two at the side. The widest opening on the side is covered by sheep/goat skin. This instrument is played by hand and because of its unique design creates a very soothing and also magical sound.
Frudu
Click on the icon to listen to Frudu played by me.