Daf

Daf
Percussion
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, parai

Daf (Persian: دف), also known as dâyere and riq, is a Middle Eastern (mainly Iranian)[1] frame drum musical instrument, used in popular and classical music in South and Central Asia. It is also used in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, many regions of Georgia, Armenia, Pakistan as well as in parts of India[2] and Russian polar regions. It is also popular among Balkans, Caucasians, Bukharan Jews, Kurds, and Macedonians.[3]

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

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.[8]

  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. ^ Sahani, Alaka (11 February 2020). "Who is afraid of the dafli?". Indian Express. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  3. ^ Tony Langlois (2017). Non-Western Popular Music. Routledge. p. 91. ISBN 978-1351556156.
  4. ^ Ahmed, Shaheen (August 31, 2021). "THE MAGICAL INSTRUMENT". The Victor Magazine.
  5. ^ Mirza, Afshan (2021). "National Musical Instrument of Pakistan and Provincial instruments". Popular in Pakistan.
  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. ^ "Dayereh". Birseyogren.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.

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