Chenda
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The Chenda (Malayalam: ചെണ്ട, [tʃeɳʈa]) is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the state of Kerala, and Tulu Nadu of Karnataka State in India. In Tulu Nadu it is known as chande.
A Chenda is a cylindrical wooden drum, and has a length of two feet and a diameter of one foot. Both ends are covered (usually with animal's skin). The animal skin is usually of a cow, in a traditional Chenda other skins are not used (skin of bull, ox etc. are not used), to have a quality sound the skin from the abdominal part of the cow is taken. The Chenda is suspended from the drummers neck so that it hangs vertically. Using two sticks, the drummer strikes the upper parchment. This instrument is famous for its loud and rigid sound. A Chenda has two sides, the left side called "Edamthala" (Left Head) and the right side "Valamthala" (Right Head). The "Edamthala" is made of only one layer of cow skin and the "Valamthala" will have a five layer skin, so as to have a bass sound.
The Chenda is mainly played in Hindu temple festivals and as an accompaniment in the religious art forms of Kerala. The chenda is used as an accompaniment for Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Kannyar Kali, Theyyam and among many forms of dances and rituals in Kerala. It is also played in a dance-drama called Yakshagana (Tenku Thittu) which is popular in Tulu Nadu of Karnataka. There is a variant of this instrument used in northern school of Yakshagana called Chande. It is traditionally considered to be an Asura Vadyam which means it cannot go in harmony. Chenda is an unavoidable musical instrument in all form of cultural activities in Kerala.
Singarimelam
Singari Melam is the perfect sound of music for your recreational celebrations.Chenda melam is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the Kerela and Karnataka states in india.Chenda melam is cylindrical wooden drum and a length of 2 feet of a diameter of 1 foot. Both ends are covered. Chenda melam using the two stricks the upper parchment. Chenda Melam is famous for its loud and rigid sound. Chenda melam is mainly played in hindu temple festivals. The Chenda malam used as an Kathakali, Kodiyattam etc. Chenda melam is most popular from Kerela for more than 300 years. Chenda melam is an integral part of all festivals in Kerela. Chenda Melam is a origin of Pandy Melam(Panchari).. Chenda melam can produce multiple vadhyas and range magnificent sound. These are 7 types of melangal viz panchari, champa, chempada, adantha, anchadatha, druvam and pandy. The earlier 6 melams are called Chempada melangal two more melams navam and kalpam.
Learning
A Chenda is taught in a traditional way, the students have to practice on a stone using a strong and thick stick usually made of tamarind tree bark. Usually the learning stick would be 29cm in length, 3 cm in diameter on one side and 2.5cm on other side of the stick. Once the learning on stone is finished, the original Chenda is used to play with a long and thin stick.
A traditional Chenda learning always would start and end with "Ganapathi Kai", it is a prayer and dedication to the Hindu god Ganapathi.
A "Ganapathi Kai" consists of 37 beats.
Gi...... Kam...
Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...
Dhi.Ri. Ki.Da. Tha.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...
Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...
Dhi.Kka. Nna.. Nna.. Kaam...
Du...... Du......
Dhi.Ri. Ki.Da. Tha.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...
Here the letters starting with "G" (ഗീ) and "K" (ക) are beaten using left hand and others by right hand.
ഗീ.... കാം......
ണ ക ത ര കാം
ധി രി കി ട ത ക ത ര കാം
ണ ക ത ര കാം
ഡ് ക്ക ണ ണ്ണ കാം
ഡ്...........ഡ്.........
ധി രി കി ട ത ക ത ര കാം
Playing
There are different ways of playing the chenda, made out of a cylindrical wooden drum, and has a length of two feet and a diameter of one foot. Both ends are covered (usually with animal's skin). The chenda is suspended from the drummers neck so that it hangs vertically. Using two sticks, the drummer strikes the upper parchment. This instrument is famous for its loud and rigid sound.
References
See also
