The thavil (Tamil: தவிள்) is a barrel shaped percussion instrument from South India. It is used in folk music and Carnatic music, often accompanying the nadaswaram. The thavil and the nadaswaram are essential ingredients of traditional festivals and ceremonies in South India.
The thavil consists of a cylindrical shell hollowed out of a solid block of jackfruit wood. Layers of animal skin (water buffalo on the right, goat on the left) are stretched across the two sides of the shell using hemp hoops attached to the shell. The right face of the instrument has a larger diameter than the left side, and the right drum head is stretched very tightly, while the left drum head is kept loose to allow pitch bending.
The instrument is either played while sitting, or hung by a cloth strap (called nadai) from the shoulder of the player. The right head is played with the right hand, wrist and fingers. The player usually wears thumb caps on all the fingers of the right hand, made from hardened glue made from maida flour. The left head is played with a short, thick stick made from the wood of the portia tree. It is not uncommon for left-handed players to use the opposite hands, and some nadaswaram groups feature both a right- and a left-handed thavil player.
In folk music contexts, a pair of longer, thinner sticks is sometimes used.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
ORIGINS OF THE URUMI...
The urumee (Tamil: உறுமி மேளம்; also known as urumi) is a double-headed hourglass-shaped drum from the state of Tamil Nadu, South India. Two skin heads are attached to a single hallow, often intricately carved wooden shell. The preferred wood is jackwood, although other wood may be used. Both left and right heads are usually made from cow hide that is stretched around a thin metal ring (sometimes lizard skin is used for the right head). The outer circumference of each head is perforated with approximately seven to eight holes. The two heads are held in tension by a continuous rope that is woven around the drum in a V-shape pattern. Additional small coils of string or metal are tied around each pair of ropes near the left head. These coils can be slide horizontally along the length of the drum, increasing or decreasing the tension between the heads as necessary. For example, during the monsoon season the drum heads will slacken so much that the instrument becomes unplayable. Using these coils drummers can easily rectify such problems.
TECHNIQUE
The urumi is slung with a cloth strap across the shoulder and played by the drummer horizontally. This simple harness allows the drummer to play standing or walking. The urumi is played entirely with sticks. There are five basic sounds that can be played on the drum: an "open sound" produced by striking the right head, a deep resonant "moaning" sound produced by striking the right head while simultaneously rubbing the left head with the edge of a long curved stick, a bent "talking drum-like" tone in which the right head is stuck while the left hand squeezes and releases the rope holding the heads together, and two closed (non-pitched) sounds produced by striking and pressing/muting with the left and right stick respectively. Castor oil is often applied to the left head in order to facilitate the drummer's ability to produce the "moaning sound" described above.
NOTATION
As an aural tradition, Tamil folk music does not have a codified system of written notation. Musicians learn through years of unconscious absorption, conscious listening, imitation, and practice.
HISTORY AND PERFORMANCE CONTEXT
The urumi is a folk instrument typically played by Dalits (also known as untouchables). This drum is widely believed to possess supernatural and sacred powers. When played in religious ceremonies and processions, the performance of specific beats on the urumi may induce spirit possessions or Trance. The urumi is also played in the South Indian state of Kerala, which borders Tamil Nadu. The urumi is most often performed in two types of ensembles:
Urumi Melam
Naiyandi Melam
Urumi melam ensembles usually consist of a melodic instrument, the double-reed Nadaswaram, a pair of double headed drums called pampai, and one to three urumi drums. This type of ensemble is associated exclusively with funerals and other inauspicious occasions. The naiyanti melam is the most common type of folk ensemble associated with ritual and dance. A typical naiyandi melam is composed of two double-reed nadaswaram, one or two thavil (barrel drums), a tamukku (kettle drum played with leather straps), a pambai, and an urumi. It performs for a number of festive occasions including dance-dramas, menstruation ceremonies, weddings, harvest festivals, and staged folk dances such as :-
- Poikkal Kudirai (dummy horse dance)
- Mayil Attam (peacock dance)
- Puli Attam (tiger dance)
- Kavadi Attam (a devotional dance to Lord Murugan)
and many others. The urumi may also be heard on commercial recordings of film soundtracks and popular folk music.
TECHNIQUE
The urumi is slung with a cloth strap across the shoulder and played by the drummer horizontally. This simple harness allows the drummer to play standing or walking. The urumi is played entirely with sticks. There are five basic sounds that can be played on the drum: an "open sound" produced by striking the right head, a deep resonant "moaning" sound produced by striking the right head while simultaneously rubbing the left head with the edge of a long curved stick, a bent "talking drum-like" tone in which the right head is stuck while the left hand squeezes and releases the rope holding the heads together, and two closed (non-pitched) sounds produced by striking and pressing/muting with the left and right stick respectively. Castor oil is often applied to the left head in order to facilitate the drummer's ability to produce the "moaning sound" described above.
NOTATION
As an aural tradition, Tamil folk music does not have a codified system of written notation. Musicians learn through years of unconscious absorption, conscious listening, imitation, and practice.
HISTORY AND PERFORMANCE CONTEXT
The urumi is a folk instrument typically played by Dalits (also known as untouchables). This drum is widely believed to possess supernatural and sacred powers. When played in religious ceremonies and processions, the performance of specific beats on the urumi may induce spirit possessions or Trance. The urumi is also played in the South Indian state of Kerala, which borders Tamil Nadu. The urumi is most often performed in two types of ensembles:
Urumi Melam
Naiyandi Melam
Urumi melam ensembles usually consist of a melodic instrument, the double-reed Nadaswaram, a pair of double headed drums called pampai, and one to three urumi drums. This type of ensemble is associated exclusively with funerals and other inauspicious occasions. The naiyanti melam is the most common type of folk ensemble associated with ritual and dance. A typical naiyandi melam is composed of two double-reed nadaswaram, one or two thavil (barrel drums), a tamukku (kettle drum played with leather straps), a pambai, and an urumi. It performs for a number of festive occasions including dance-dramas, menstruation ceremonies, weddings, harvest festivals, and staged folk dances such as :-
- Poikkal Kudirai (dummy horse dance)
- Mayil Attam (peacock dance)
- Puli Attam (tiger dance)
- Kavadi Attam (a devotional dance to Lord Murugan)
and many others. The urumi may also be heard on commercial recordings of film soundtracks and popular folk music.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
LATEST UPDATES ON MEETING WITH HEB!
WE RECENTLY HAD A MEETING WITH HINDU ENDOWMENT BOARD. ACCORDING TO HEB THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO ARE DISCOURAGING URUMI MELAM BUT IT WAS THE POLICE ALL ALONG.
ALL THESE PROBLEMS AROUSED SOME 2 YEARS BACK WHEN URUMI MELAM GROUPS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY ANJADIES(HOOLIGANS WHO MISBEHAVED IN PUBLIC) AND THOSE WHO BELONG TO GANGS. DUE TO THIS, MANY URUMI GROUPS GOT INTO QUARRELS AND THIS ALSO INVOLVED URUMI MELAM GROUPS FROM MALAYSIA. THE PUBLIC ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE LOUD NOISE BEING PRODUCED BY OUR INSRUMENTS TO THE POLICE. AS THIS ISSUE CAUGHT THE POLICE'S ATTENTION, THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION THUS WARNING HEB OF THE PROBLEM AROUSED. OF COURSE HEB NOR THE POLICE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BANN US FROM PLAYING SO THIS YEAR HEB DECIDED TO TELL KAVADI BARRERS TO REFRAIN THEMSELVES FROM BOOKING US. BUT EVEN THAT COULD NOT STOP US FROM PLAYING FOR THAIPUSAM 2009.
IN OUR RECENT MEETING WITH HEB, RIGHT AFTER THAIPUSAM 2009, THEY HAVE PROMISED US THAT THEY WILL HELP US IN WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE AND WE TAKE THIER WORD FOR IT. ALL WE WANT IS TO BE RECOGNISED IN SINGAPORE AS AN HINDU FOLK INSTRUMENTAL GROUP DOING OUR SERVICE FOR GOD AND HIS DEVOTEES.
SINGAPORE INDIANS WILL BE SEEING MORE OF US IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME. WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT ALL FAMILY, FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND ESPACIALLY AND HINDUS WILL SUPPORT US IN OUR ACTIONS.
ALL THESE PROBLEMS AROUSED SOME 2 YEARS BACK WHEN URUMI MELAM GROUPS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY ANJADIES(HOOLIGANS WHO MISBEHAVED IN PUBLIC) AND THOSE WHO BELONG TO GANGS. DUE TO THIS, MANY URUMI GROUPS GOT INTO QUARRELS AND THIS ALSO INVOLVED URUMI MELAM GROUPS FROM MALAYSIA. THE PUBLIC ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE LOUD NOISE BEING PRODUCED BY OUR INSRUMENTS TO THE POLICE. AS THIS ISSUE CAUGHT THE POLICE'S ATTENTION, THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION THUS WARNING HEB OF THE PROBLEM AROUSED. OF COURSE HEB NOR THE POLICE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BANN US FROM PLAYING SO THIS YEAR HEB DECIDED TO TELL KAVADI BARRERS TO REFRAIN THEMSELVES FROM BOOKING US. BUT EVEN THAT COULD NOT STOP US FROM PLAYING FOR THAIPUSAM 2009.
IN OUR RECENT MEETING WITH HEB, RIGHT AFTER THAIPUSAM 2009, THEY HAVE PROMISED US THAT THEY WILL HELP US IN WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE AND WE TAKE THIER WORD FOR IT. ALL WE WANT IS TO BE RECOGNISED IN SINGAPORE AS AN HINDU FOLK INSTRUMENTAL GROUP DOING OUR SERVICE FOR GOD AND HIS DEVOTEES.
SINGAPORE INDIANS WILL BE SEEING MORE OF US IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME. WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT ALL FAMILY, FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND ESPACIALLY AND HINDUS WILL SUPPORT US IN OUR ACTIONS.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
URUMI MELAM SUCCESS
URUMI MELAM SUCCESS
20TH FEB IS A DAY TO BE REMEMBERERED BY MOST URUMI MELAM GRPS IN SINGAPORE! THE MEETING ARRANGED ON TIS DAY FOR ALL GRPS IN SINGAPORE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! THE GRPS THAT TURNED UP ON TAT DAY NOW HAD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WAD IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO BRING UP URUMI MELAM IN SINGAPORE!!! I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE TIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EACH AND EVERY GRP INDIVIDUALLY FOR ATTENDING THE MEETING DESPITE THEIR HECTIC SCHEDULES AND FOR CONTRIBUTING THEIR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS IN THE MEETING!!!
GROUPS WHICH ATTENDED THE MEETING:
1)ATHISHAKTHI URUMEE MELAM
2)AGNI THANDAVAM URUMEE MELAM
3)ARULOSAI URUMI MELAM
4)JEDA MUNI URUMEE MELAM
5)OM KARUPPANNA SANGILI VEERA URUMEE MELAM
6)MAYA SUDAROLI URUMEE MELAM
7)MANTHRAZ URUMEE MELAM
8)SURAAVALI URUMEE MELAM
9)SIVASAKTHI MUNIANDY URUMEE MELAM
10)VEAPPAMMA KALI URUMEE MELAM
11)VINAYAGAR URUMEE MELAM
GRPS WHO REALLI CLDNT MAKE IT CUZ OF WERK COMMITMENTS N GRPS WHICH I REALLI CLD NOT GET HOLD OF:
1)SINGAIYIDI URUMEE MELAM
2)PERIYATCHI PILLAIGAL
PLS NOTE: WE APOLOGISE TI SINGAIYIDI FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTACT YOU GUYS FOR THE MEETING.
AS LONG AS WE ARE CONCERNED THESE ARE THE ONLY GROUPS WHICH ARE STILL IN THE LEAGUE OF FIGHTING FOR URUMI MELAM IN SINGAPORE. IF OTHER GROUPS FEEL THAT THIS MEETING WAS AN UNNECESSARY THING OR THAT THEY DUN WISH TO HAVE CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER GRPS IN SINGAPORE THAN WE CANT DO ANYTHING BOUT IT. THOSE OTHER GRPS WHICH ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THE LIST ABOVE, IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU WANNA INFORM US OF UR GRP AND JOIN HAND IN HAND WITH US, THEN PLS FEEL FREE TO REPLY THIS POST OR JUZ SEND ME A MESSAGE!!!
AGAIN I WLD LIKE TO THANK ALL URUMI GRPS IN SINGAPORE FOR UR SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTION!!! THX!!!
Singapore Urumi Melam Association
Singapore Urumi Melam Association
WHO ARE WE?
we are an association consisting of most urumi melam groups in singapore
WHAT WE DO?
we speak up for the rights of urumi melam in singapore and to encourage all youths to go in the path of devotion and not destruction
WHO IS OUR CHAIRMAN/HEAD/PRESIDENT?
we do not have a leader as we believe that every man is a leader for himself
WHEN DID WE FORM UP?
we formed up unofficially on the 20th of february 2009
WHY A NEED FOR AN ASSOCIATION?
urumi melam groups need to be recognised in singapore as many get misconceptions of urumi melam and its youths
WHERE CAN YOU FIND US?
in the hearts of urumi melam fans and our supporters
WHO ARE OUR MEMBERS?
SRI AATHI SHAKTHI URUMEE MELAM (KARUMAARIAMMAN)
AGNI THANDAVAM URUMEE MELAM
ARULOSAI URUMI MELAM
JADA MUNI URUMEE MELAM
OM KARUPANA SANGILI VEERA URUMI MELAM
MAAYA SUDAR OLI URUMEE MELAM
MANTHRAZ URUMEE MELAM (MAYA KALI)
PERIYATCHI PILLAIGAL URUMEE MELAM
SURAAVALI URUMEE MELAM
SIVA SAKTHI MUNIANDY URUMI MELAM
VEAPPAMMA KALI URUMI MELAM
SRI VENAYAGAR URUMEE MELAM
JADA MUNI URUMEE MELAM
OM KARUPANA SANGILI VEERA URUMI MELAM
MAAYA SUDAR OLI URUMEE MELAM
MANTHRAZ URUMEE MELAM (MAYA KALI)
PERIYATCHI PILLAIGAL URUMEE MELAM
SURAAVALI URUMEE MELAM
SIVA SAKTHI MUNIANDY URUMI MELAM
VEAPPAMMA KALI URUMI MELAM
SRI VENAYAGAR URUMEE MELAM
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