Daf

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For other uses, see DAF (disambiguation).
Daf
Pair of dafs.jpg
Percussion instrument
Other namesdafli, dap, def, tef, defi, gaval, duf, duff, dof
Classification Directly struck membranophones
Hornbostel–Sachs classification211.311
(Handle-less frame drum with one usable membrane)
Playing range
High sound of jingles, plus some have a skin with a lower sound.
Related instruments
Buben, Tambourine, Kanjira, Frame drum

Daf (Persian: دف‎) also known as Dayereh and Riq is a Middle Eastern (mainly Iranian)[1] frame drum musical instrument, used in popular and classical music in Iran and Pakistan. It is also used in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Caucasus, Balkans, many regions of Georgia, (Kartli, Kakheti, Tusheti, Samegrelo, Racha, and Imereti) and in parts of the Russian polar regions. It is also popular among Bukharan Jews and Macedonians.[2][3]

Daf is the national musical instrument of Pakistan.[4][5] and is also depicted on the reverse of the Azerbaijani 1 qəpik coin minted since 2006[6] and on the obverse of the Azerbaijani 1 manat banknote issued since 2006.[7]

It traditionally has a round wooden frame (although in the modern era it may also be made of metal), jingles, and a thin, translucent head made of fish or goat skin (or, more recently, a synthetic material).

History[]

Daf in a miniature, Isfahan, Iran.

The Pahlavi (an ancient Iranian language) name of the daf is dap.[8] Some pictures of daf have been found in paintings that date before the Common Era. The presence of Iranian daf in the reliefs of Behistun suggests the it existed before the rise of Islam. Dafs were part of religious music in Iran much before Sufism. Iranian music has always been a spiritual tool. It shows that daf played an important role in Mazdean Iran emerging as an important element during the Sassanian times during the Kâvusakân dynasty. Also, there is a kind of square frame drum in the stonecutting of Taq-e Bostan (another famous monument located 5 km (3 mi) northeast of Kermanshah city). These frame drums were played in the ancient Middle East (chiefly by women in Kurdish societies), Greece, and Rome and reached medieval Europe through Islamic culture.

Daf depicted in middle Assyrian empire relief 1392 BC–934 BC

Nowruz (the first day of the Iranian New Year and the national festival of the Iranian people) and other festive occasions have been accompanied by daf in Sassanid periods (224 A.D. - 651 A.D.). In this period the daf was played in order to accompany Iranian classical music. Dafs were likely used in the 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 mythical king Khosrow. Recent research reveals that these modes were used in the recitation 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 rhythms, causing one to go under a trance and reach an ecstatic and spiritually-high state. For this reason, they have always been connected with religion in Iran.[citation needed]

Musicians in Aleppo, Syria, the Musician on the far left using the daf.

An engraved bronze cup from Lorestān at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, portrays a double ney (end-blown reed pipes), chang (harp), and a daf in a shrine or court processional, as similarly documented in Egypt, Elam, and the Persian province of Babylonia where music was arranged for performance by large orchestral ensembles.[8]

The Arabs introduced the daf and other Middle Eastern musical instruments to Spain, and the Spanish adapted and promoted the Daf and other musical instruments (such as the guitar) in medieval Europe. In the 15th century, the daf was only used in Sufi ceremonies; the Ottomans reintroduced it to Europe in the 17th century.[citation needed]

The art of daf playing in Iranian Kurdistan and other parts of Iran has survived till today because of the efforts of Iranian Sufis; especially in the 20th century.[citation needed] Daf still functions as an important part of Iranian music (both traditional and classical) as it did in ancient times. It successfully encourages many young Iranians to take up learning this ancient instrument.

Structure and construction[]

Pakistani musicians playing big-sized Daf

The jingles which are thin metal plates or rings, are attached to hooks in three or four rectangular holes in the circular wooden frame. The drumhead is made of fish or goat skin. The width of the frame is 45–50 cm (18–20 in.) and the depth, 5–7 cm (2–3 in.). In order to bend the frame, the wood ("buka", "orev") may be softened in water before being bent around a hot metal cylinder. The frame is closed by gluing the ends together. Finally, the skin is attached to the frame by fixing it with another wooden frame or by using nails. Another variation is to have the ring-style jingles arranged around the edge of the inside of the drum the whole way around[8] or to have several tiers half way around the inside edge.[9]

Performance[]

Iranian Kurds from Sanandaj

The sound is produced by hitting the membrane with either hand – the left hand, which also holds the Daf, strikes the edges, and the right hand strikes the center. The right-hand fingers are fastened about their neighbours and suddenly released (like the action of finger-snapping) to produce loud, rapid, sharp sounds.[3]

Daf in Islam[]

According to some Muslims, it was the only musical instrument permitted by the Islamic prophet Muhammad to play during celebrations.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Emami, Seyede Faranak (2014). "Acoustic Sensitivity of the Saccule and Daf Music". Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 26 (75): 105–110. ISSN 2251-7251. PMC 3989875. PMID 24744999.
  2. ^ Tony Langlois (2017). Non-Western Popular Music. Routledge. p. 91. ISBN 978-1351556156.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dayereh". Birseyogren.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  4. ^ Ali, Ayesha (10 May 2018). "What is the National Musical Instrument of Pakistan?". Pakistan General Knowledge. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. ^ American Institute of Pakistani Studies. "Instruments of Pakistan". American Institute of Pakistani Studies.
  6. ^ Central Bank of Azerbaijan. National currency: New generation coins. – Retrieved on 25 February 2010.
  7. ^ National Bank of Azerbaijan Archived 2007-05-16 at the Wayback Machine. National currency: 1 manat[dead link]. – Retrieved on 25 March 2009. (Old site -now a dead link- that mentioned the instrument as a daf).
    Central Bank of Azerbaijan. National currency: 1 manat. – Retrieved on 25 February 2010. (Current site that mentions the instrument as a drum).
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Ghaval:Drumdojo:By Drummers For Drummers". 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  9. ^ "semi-ringed frame drum". Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
  10. ^ al-Munajjid, Muhammad Salih. "When is it permissible to beat the daff? - Islam Question & Answer". Islam Question & Answer. IslamQA. Retrieved 27 August 2019.

External links[]

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