How Much Do You Know About Drums From Around The World? Test Your Knowledge With Our International Drum Quiz.
By Pat Beaven
All of life is a rhythm-fest! The first rhythm we come to know - while still in uterus – is our mother’s heartbeat; in every culture, for as long as history has been recorded, drums and drumbeats have echoed that primal sound. Hand-drumming: hand on drum, skin against skin, or creating a vibration on the drum with a variety of beaters has always been a popular way for people to express themselves. Drums have been used for sending messages, telling stories, frightening enemies, as a way of teaching, worshipping, celebrating, and mourning. Mark each statement true or false to see how much you know about the diverse drums of the world …
1.
Legend says the bodhran, or Irish frame drum, started life as a pan for shaking husks off grain.
True False
2.
Tabla is the name for the pair of drums you see most often played by Indian musicians.
True False
3.
The Latin tambora originated in Chile.
True False
4.
Bob Marley, the King of Reggae, incorporated traditional Nyabinghi drumming – music from the strictest Rastafarian sect – into his tunes.
True False
5.
Friction drums produce their sound when wire brushes or bunches of twigs are rubbed across the drum head.
True False
6.
Dumbek, doumbek, and darrabuka are all ways of naming the traditional hour-glass shaped drum from the Middle East.
True False
7.
The traditional West African djembe is often called “the healing drum”.
True False
8.
Congas and bongos are two ways of referring to the same drum.
True False
9.
Gagaku, the official music played in the Japanese imperial court, uses four drums: the kakko, the tsuri-daiko, the da-daiko, and the ko-tsuzumi.
True False
10.
Modern kettledrums evolved from Arab naqara that European soldiers brought back from the Middle East in the 12th and 13th centuries.
True False
11.
Water drums are of Polynesian origin.
True False
12.
African talking drums imitate the tones of languages such as Yoruba to send messages to people up to 30 kilometres away.
True False
Answers!
1.
True.
Apparently that’s its history! Pronounce it “bo – rawn” and you’ll sound so knowledgeable.
2.
True.
It’s how you refer to the pair of drums, and is also what the smaller of the two is called. The larger drum on the drummer’s left is called a bhaya.
3.
False.
This merengue drum originated in the Dominican Republic.
4.
True.
The rhythms of reggae are based on Nyabinghi, which uses three kinds of drums: the bass, the funde, and the akete.
5.
False.
The membrane on a friction drum is pierced by a stick which is pulled up and down or rubbed between the hands to make a growling-type sound.
6.
True.
Traditionally, the drum body was made of clay or wood and the membrane was goatskin; now many drummers prefer metal and plastic.
7.
True.
This is one of the world’s oldest hand drums. Say “jen – bay” when you say it!
8.
False.
Bongos are a pair of small drums, while the barrel-shaped congas are the very largest drums used in Latin music.
9.
False.
All except the ko-tsuzumi, a drum that’s an important element in Japanese Noh drama.
10.
True.
The naqara’s sound appealed to soldiers there to fight in wars, so they brought the drums back to Europe with them on their return. The drums were known as “nakers” in England.
11.
False.
American First Nations people made water drums by filling an iron pot one-third full of water, then securing buckskin tautly across the top. Water splashing up as the drum was played kept the skin tight.
12.
True.
A large drum is used for the low tones, and a small drum for the high tones, although sometimes a single drum is used, with tones being changed by altering the tension of the membrane.
How did you do?
9 or more correct?
A big drum roll, please … congratulations – you really know your World beats!
5 – 8 correct?
Not quite a Professor of Percussion, but enough left-brain knowledge to enhance right-brain enjoyment of the diverse drumming experiences you may encounter!
4 or less correct?
You probably didn’t even realize what a big, wide world of drumming there was out there. Look at it this way – you’ve learned a lot!
Pat Beaven is an actor, educator, and freelance journalist who revels in the spirit of cultural diversity where she makes her home in Toronto, Canada. Her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across North America; she has a special interest in culture-specific movement disciplines, and is a staff writer for several dance publications.
