Dhol
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Other names | ਢੋਲ, ڈھول, ઢોલ, ढोल, ঢোল |
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Classification | Membranophone |
Related instruments | |
Dholki | |
More articles or information | |
Bhangra, Music of Punjab, Bihu Dance |
Dhol (Devanagari:ढोल, Khowar: دھول,Gurmukhi:ਢੋਲ, Urdu: ڈھول, Assamese: ঢোল) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes northern areas such as the Assam Valley, Gujarat, Kashmir, Maharashtra, Konkan and Goa, Punjab, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Sindh and Uttar Pradesh. The range stretches westward as far as eastern Afghanistan. The Punjabi dhol is perhaps best known abroad due to its prominent place in the rhythm of popular Punjabi Bhangra music.
Description
The dhol is a double-sided barrel drum played mostly as an accompanying instrument in regional music forms. In Qawwali music, the term dhol is used to describe a similar, but smaller drum used with the smaller tabla, as a replacement for the left hand tabla drum. The typical sizes of the drum vary slightly from region to region. In Punjab, the dhol remains large and bulky to produce the preferred loud bass. In other regions, dhols can be found in varying shapes and sizes and made with different woods and materials (fiberglass, Steel, Plastic). The drum consists of a wooden barrel with animal hide or synthetic skin stretched over its open ends, covering them completely. These skins can be stretched or loosened with a tightening mechanism made up of either interwoven ropes, or nuts and bolts. Tightening or loosening the skins subtly alters the Pitch of the drum sound. The stretched skin on one of the ends is thicker and produces a deep, low frequency (higher bass) sound and the other thinner one produces a higher frequency sound. Dhols with synthetic, or plastic, treble skins are very common.
The introduction of electronic devices such as tape recorders has led to a decline in the importance of dhol players in celebratory events. Nevertheless, dhol music still figures in the studio recordings of present day Raas/Garba and Bhangra music artists. A related instrument is the dholak or dholki.
Playing
The Dhol is played using two wooden sticks, usually made out of bamboo and cane wood. The stick used to play the bass side of the instrument, known as the dagga in Punjabi, is thick (roughly about 10 mm in diameter) and is bent in a quarter-circular arc on the end that strikes the instrument. The other stick, known as tihli, is much thinner and flexible and used to play the higher note end of the instrument.
The Dhol is slung over the neck of the player with a strap usually made up of woven cotton. The surface of the wooden barrel is in some cases decorated with engraved patterns and sometimes paint.
In the pre-Partition era, dozens of rhythms were played on the Punjabi dhol, which corresponded to specific functions. However, with the decline or disappearance of some cultural practices, recent generations of dhol-players have become unfamiliar with many of these. At the same time, the growth of folkloric staged bhangra dance in Indian Punjab inspired the creation of many new rhythms particular to that dance.[1]
Some of the most common Punjabi dhol rhythms are bhangra (originating with the old, community bhangra dance), dhamaal (associated with many cultural functions, including worship at Sufi shrines), and kaharva, a dance and song rhythm. The staged "bhangra" dance, originating in the 1950s, gave special prominence to kaharva, for the performance of actions called luddi. In the 1970s, many more actions were added to staged bhangra to go with the kaharva rhythm, which started to become one of the most prominent rhythms associated with the dance. At the same time, this type of rhythm would be played on the dholki drum to accompany Punjabi songs. So when, in the 1990s, Punjabi pop songs began to evoke bhangra dance, they used the kaharva rhythm. It is known now by various names. Some dhol-players call it kaharva, its technical name, while other players in Punjab call it luddi to refer to the dance of that name. With the style of dhol-playing that developed in the U.K., the name chaal was adopted—probably in reference to the "chaal" movements it accompanies in modern bhangra—however, that term is not used elsewhere.[2]
History
The dhol is a drum that dates back to the 15th century. It was probably introduced to the Indian subcontinent via the Persian drum type dohol (duhul).[3] The evidence for this is found in Ain-i-Akbari, which describes the use of duhul in the orchestra of the Mughal emperor Akbar.[4] The Indo-Aryan word "dhol" appears in print around 1800 in the treatise Sangitasara.[5]
Relation to other drums
One finds a similar yet appreciably distinct family of drums with similar names in Iran (Persian: دهل), Armenia (Armenian: դհոլ), and states of Central Asia.
Regional forms and traditions
Punjab (India and Pakistan)
It was used in war by the Sikhs[citation needed] and later to celebrate successful harvests by the farmers.[citation needed] The dhol is also used during Punjabi wedding processions and parties.
In Western Punjab, the beats of dhol have been an element in the ceremonies of the great Sufi mystics and their followers. The patterns of dhol have been developed to catalyze the mind of the devotee as is seeking spiritual trance.Someone who plays the Dhol is known as Dholi (Punjabi: ਢੋਲੀ). Traditionally the Punjabi dhol has been the domain of men.
Assam
In Assam, dhol is widely used in Rongali Bihu (Bohag Bihu), the most beloved festival of the Assamese people. Rongali Bihu is celebrated in the mid of April every year. Usually on 14 or 13 April according to Assamese traditional calendar
Goa
Dhol (which is always accompanied by tasha, cymbals etc.) is an important part of Goan Shigmo celebrations.[6] It also is an important part of Goan temple music.Only the temple dhol was traditionally played by a specific caste.[7]
Gujarat
The dhol was used by Gujaratis during celebrations such as Navaratri to accompany garba. Garba are the folk songs which describe the grace of the divine mother.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, Dhol is a primary instrument used in Ganesh Festivals. In the city of Pune students, working professionals, businessmen come together to form Dhol Pathaks or troups. Pune supposedly has the largest number dhols in India.
Karnataka
Called as Dhollu in Kannada,is always accompanied by a famous folk dance form known as Dollu Kunitha and is performed by the people of the Kuruba caste of Karnataka. [citation needed]
Pashtun areas
When doing Attan, the cultural Pathan/Pashtun dance, Dhol is the main musical instrument. Attan is done in accordance to the sound of the Dhol.
In global culture
It has also become popular in other parts of the world due to South Asian diaspora. Dhol has been a popular musical instrument in both formal and informal dance performances for decades.
See also
- Dholi
- Bhangra (music)
- Punjab region
- Music of Punjab
- Indian musical instruments
- Davul
- Bihu
- Bihu dance
- Garba
- Nagara
- Pappu Saeen
- Rani Taj
- Dholak
- Dohol
References
- ^ See: Schreffler, Signs of Separation, 2010.
- ^ Schreffler, Signs of Separation, 2010.
- ^ Thakur 1996; Nabha 1998
- ^ DHOL KING OF THE PUNJABI INSTRUMENTS. Gibb Schreffler.
- ^ Tarlekar 1972: 74
- ^ Goa, Daman and Diu (India). Gazetteer Dept (1979). Gazetteer of the Union Territory Goa, Daman and Diu: district gazetteer, Volume 1. Gazetteer Dept., Govt. of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. pp. page:263.
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has extra text (help) - ^ Śiroḍakara,Mandal, Pra. Pā, H. K (1993). People of India: Goa. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 283 pages(see pages:45.263). ISBN 81-7154-760-5, 9788171547609.
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Further reading
- Schreffler, Gibb Stuart. Signs of Separation: Dhol in Punjabi Culture. University of California, Santa Barbara, 2010.
- - Assamese Dhol