The Doumbek Page
Although this page is named 'The doumbek Page',
it is devoted to the goblet shaped drums, by any of the
many names given to them around the world.
 The
many names of Goblet drums..
click for a summary.
We love the many goblet shaped
drums of the Middle East. Arab, Armenian, Persian, and Turkish
music feature them, prominently in bellydance and other
musics of the Near and Middle East.
Although we over here in the
U.S.A. have mostly seen one type of goblet drum, and most
often call these drums 'Doumbek', they are actually different
drums, known by a variety of names and spellings, such as
tonbak, donbak, Tombak, etc. The combination of deep bass
tones and crisp, high tones give the doumbek it's
name.
The image of this beautiful khatam tonbak
at left is courtesy of Persian musician Peyman
Nasehpour.
Portable, not too loud, the
doumbek is perfect for some people. We love our doumbeks
tonbaks, and Darabukas.
Murat Denizkusu's a German musician and a friend of David
Kuckermann. Check out his darbuka
solo from a recent improvised duo electronic/darbuka
gig in a local underground club
Doumbek instructional Resources
Members of the Goblet
Drumming Group at Yahoo have recently released
resources. Daveed Korup has a textbook with video, Tao Te
Drum , and a CD , Rhythm rides for Dumbek, a step by step
guide to Middle Eastern rhythms..they are available <HERE>
Kobi Hagoel, percussionist based in ISsrael, also has a
new book out, with a great many rhythms charted out..136
pages with 6 CD's..get
it here..
Here
is a wonderful post by a GDG Group member regarding
the difference between certain styles, and how the shape
of the drum affects the way it must be approached..
from "From
Luxor To Isna" by Musicians of
the Nile is a recommended album.
 The
Tonbak (Zarb)
Made from wood, the Persian
tombak, also called the Zarb, is an ancient instrument.
Ostad Hosein Tehrani is widely
considered the father of modern Zarb playing. For a brief
history of Ostad Tehrani & the Tonbak, click
here.
This zarb solo is about 5
minutes long. Tehrani begins calmly (click
to listen) , and works his way up to a fever pitch
with excellent use of the Zarb's pitch bending and scratching
capabilities.
Listen to a 28 second sample of Ostad
Farhangfar playing tonbak.
Listen to Ostad
Hossain Tehrani, father of modern tonbak.
|
New
GDG member Yonatan Bar Rashi has a long and fascinating
history in the music business. 
,
once used by the HOPI tribe as a symbol for universal
brotherhood. May it someday become a reality..
©
1996-2008 Eric Stuer