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]
The Pahlavi (an ancient Iranian language) name of the daf is dap.[9] Some pictures of daf have been found in paintings that date before the Common Era. The presence of the Iranian daf in the 6th–5th century BCE Behistun Inscription suggests that it existed before the rise of Islam and 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 period during the Kâvusakân dynasty. Also, there is a kind of square frame drum in the stonecutting of Taq-e Bostan (another famous monument located 5km 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 the Sassanid periods (224 AD–651 AD). 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.[9]
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 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.
Daf, and its smaller version called dafli, is also used across India.[2] It is believed to have arrived along with other Persian influences in the medieval era, and is a popular folk instrument. In southern India, its use became mainstream, especially in protests, during the early half of the 20th century.[10] Since the 1950s, it has also been used prominently in Bollywood.[10]
In Islam
In Islam, Daf holds special importance because some Muslims believe that it is the only musical instrument which is permitted to be used.[11] The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, did not impose any restrictions on using the daf.[12] It has always been an important part of Islamic Sufi music.[13]
Structure and construction
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[9] or to have several tiers half way around the inside edge.[14]
^Emami, Seyede Faranak (2014). "Acoustic Sensitivity of the Saccule and Daf Music". Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 26 (75): 105–110. ISSN 2251-7251. PMC3989875. PMID 24744999.
^ abSahani, Alaka (11 February 2020). "Who is afraid of the dafli?". Indian Express. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Tony Langlois (2017). Non-Western Popular Music. Routledge. p. 91. ISBN978-1351556156.
^Ahmed, Shaheen (August 31, 2021). "THE MAGICAL INSTRUMENT". The Victor Magazine.
^Mirza, Afshan (2021). "National Musical Instrument of Pakistan and Provincial instruments". Popular in Pakistan.
^Central Bank of Azerbaijan. National currency: New generation coins. – Retrieved on 25 February 2010.
^National Bank of Azerbaijan 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).
^"Dayereh". Birseyogren.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
^ abc. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
^ abNair, Malini (11 September 2016). "Why the dafli packs a big protest punch". Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Hewer, Chris (2014). Understanding Islam: The First Ten Steps. SCM Press. ISBN978-0334052333. Some Muslims hold all forms of music to be forbidden, others permit certain forms of unaccompanied singing, while others will permit the use of daff or drum like a tambourine (without the cymbals). In some Sufi circles the flute or lute are permitted.
^Leaman, Oliver (2013). Controversies in Contemporary Islam. Kentucky, USA: Routledge. p. 196. ISBN978-1134499823. The daff, a simple drum or tambourine, is specifically mentioned. The Prophet did not impose any restriction on using the daff, a common musical instrument used at that time.
^Zuhur, Sherifa (2021). Popular Dance and Music in Modern Egypt. Berkeley, California: McFarland. p. 200. ISBN978-1476681993. Daff ... It has been important to Sufi music.
^. Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
External links
Nasehpour, Peyman (2015). "On Persian Daf, the Spiritual Frame Drum and Sufi Music". Nasehpour.com. Peyman Nasehpour.
World Records India, Paavan (2019). "Most People Dance with Hand Drum (Dafli)". worldrecordsindia.com. World Records of India.
Media related to Dafs at Wikimedia Commons
May 05, 2023
other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor. For other uses see DAF disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Daf news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message Daf Persian دف also known as Dayere 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 Pakistan as well as in parts of India 2 and Russian polar regions It is also popular among Balkans Bukharan Jews Caucasians Kurds and Macedonians 3 DafPercussion instrumentOther namesdafli dap def tef defi gaval duf duff dofClassificationDirectly struck membranophonesHornbostel Sachs classification211 311 Handle less frame drum with one usable membrane Playing rangeHigh sound of jingles plus some have a skin with a lower sound Related instrumentsbuben tambourine kanjira frame drum paraiDaf is the national musical instrument of Pakistan 4 5 and is also depicted on the reverse and obverse of the Azerbaijani 1 qepik 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 Contents 1 History 1 1 In Islam 2 Structure and construction 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit Daf in a miniature Isfahan Iran The Pahlavi an ancient Iranian language name of the daf is dap 9 Some pictures of daf have been found in paintings that date before the Common Era The presence of the Iranian daf in the 6th 5th century BCE Behistun Inscription suggests that it existed before the rise of Islam and 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 period during the Kavusakan dynasty Also there is a kind of square frame drum in the stonecutting of Taq e Bostan another famous monument located 5km 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 the Sassanid periods 224 AD 651 AD 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 Lorestan 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 9 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 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 Daf and its smaller version called dafli is also used across India 2 It is believed to have arrived along with other Persian influences in the medieval era and is a popular folk instrument In southern India its use became mainstream especially in protests during the early half of the 20th century 10 Since the 1950s it has also been used prominently in Bollywood 10 In Islam Edit In Islam Daf holds special importance because some Muslims believe that it is the only musical instrument which is permitted to be used 11 The Prophet of Islam Muhammad did not impose any restrictions on using the daf 12 It has always been an important part of Islamic Sufi music 13 Structure and construction EditThe 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 9 or to have several tiers half way around the inside edge 14 Iranian Kurds from SanandajSee also Edit Music portalTar drum Bodhran Bendir Mazhar Davul Innaby Azerbaijani danceReferences Edit 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 a b Sahani Alaka 11 February 2020 Who is afraid of the dafli Indian Express Retrieved 20 November 2021 Tony Langlois 2017 Non Western Popular Music Routledge p 91 ISBN 978 1351556156 Ahmed Shaheen August 31 2021 THE MAGICAL INSTRUMENT The Victor Magazine Mirza Afshan 2021 National Musical Instrument of Pakistan and Provincial instruments Popular in Pakistan Central Bank of Azerbaijan National currency New generation coins Retrieved on 25 February 2010 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 Dayereh Birseyogren com Retrieved 20 April 2021 a b c Ghaval Drumdojo By Drummers For Drummers 28 May 2008 Archived from the original on 2008 05 28 Retrieved 20 April 2021 a b Nair Malini 11 September 2016 Why the dafli packs a big protest punch Times of India Retrieved 20 November 2021 Hewer Chris 2014 Understanding Islam The First Ten Steps SCM Press ISBN 978 0334052333 Some Muslims hold all forms of music to be forbidden others permit certain forms of unaccompanied singing while others will permit the use of daff or drum like a tambourine without the cymbals In some Sufi circles the flute or lute are permitted Leaman Oliver 2013 Controversies in Contemporary Islam Kentucky USA Routledge p 196 ISBN 978 1134499823 The daff a simple drum or tambourine is specifically mentioned The Prophet did not impose any restriction on using the daff a common musical instrument used at that time Zuhur Sherifa 2021 Popular Dance and Music in Modern Egypt Berkeley California McFarland p 200 ISBN 978 1476681993 Daff It has been important to Sufi music semi ringed frame drum Archived from the original on 2008 05 13 Retrieved 2008 05 23 External links EditNasehpour Peyman 2015 On Persian Daf the Spiritual Frame Drum and Sufi Music Nasehpour com Peyman Nasehpour World Records India Paavan 2019 Most People Dance with Hand Drum Dafli worldrecordsindia com World Records of India Media related to Dafs at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Daf amp oldid 1150638335, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
