The
family of percussion instruments has one main characteristic,
the sound is created by shaking or by striking the instruments.
In Ensemble Galilei we use several drums with really distinctive
sounds. Sometimes the drumming keeps the beat, sometimes it
plays against the beat, and sometimes it imitates the tune playing
by other instruments.
The Bodhran is a traditional Irish drum. It has a wooden frame
over which skin is stretched on one side usually fastened with
nails. In the back there is a crossbar of wood, which helps
the player to hold the drum. The Bodhran has a very special
drumstick called the "tipper" which is slightly rounded on each
end. You drum back and forth with the tipper, sometimes using
both ends of the stick.
The
Dumbek is a single-headed goblet shaped drum originating in
the Middle East. The one we use is made of metal with skin on
the head. The drum is played with the hands, and has two different
sounds - one low (the dom) and one higher-pitched (the dumbek).
