Dai foot drums is important folk instrument , because like elephant foot drum body is named, is widely used in dance and Dai opera accompaniment. Foot drums but also by Jingpo , Wa, Lisu , Lahu, Brown , Achang and De’ang Khmu ethnic people and loved ethnic dance is an indispensable instrument.
1 Introduction
Dai foot drums is important folk instrument . Seems like a drum foot stature due to its name. Dai is widely used in dance and opera accompaniment. Foot drums but also by Jingpo , Wa, Lisu , Lahu, Brown , Achang and De’ang Khmu ethnic people and loved ethnic dance is an indispensable instrument.
2 Shape structure
Elephant-foot drum shape like an exquisite goblet , it is a whole timber ( or a few pieces of wood to fight stick ) production, Quintana hollow , cup-shaped upper end is resonating body , skin drumhead , drum skin surrounded by fine leather strip tighten , tethered to the lower drum cavity , and adjust its tension . Exterior paint drum body , the lower half waist drums and drum carved with decorative patterns, some still in the drum body tied with ribbons and flowers ball .
Figure elephant foot bulging body often decorated , mostly graphic peacock , elephant-foot drum dancing sometimes also plug in a few peacock feathers, while Dai peacock is the most cherished and loved birds , it represents good luck, performance the Dai people yearning for a better life and the pursuit . Similarly, foot drums shape like an elephant foot, but the elephant in the Dai people ‘s hearts symbolizes good harvest , a better life . See the peacocks and elephants from elephant foot drum , all indicate that the good wishes of the Dai people.
3 A brief history
Foot drums Dai ancient folk instruments . Ming Qian wrote the old saying ” one hundred Yi Chuan” a book says : Dai ” in sheepskin for the three , five long drum beat of hand .” That’s ” three , five long drum ” It refers to foot drums , the length of three feet to five feet mean. Visible before the Ming Dynasty , Dai already have foot drums .
Foot drums on the origins of the Dai Folk flowing a very interesting story. Said a long time ago , Dai area floods every year , people can not live , and later found out , was a dragon sin . We all hate this dragon , a brave young Dai , determined people from harm . His folks help, and finally killed the dragon . In time to celebrate the victory of the people in order to express Nielong hatred , longing for a happy life , the skin peeled off dragon , a symbol of good luck modeled elephant ‘s foot , as has become the elephant-foot drums. Since then, the pound elephant foot drum sound resounded through the Dai village , the Dai people express feelings of joy . In the eyes of the Dai people, beasts and birds of the peacock elephants have been seen as a symbol of good luck . Therefore, whenever foot drums sounded , the young and old danced merrily .
Dai people making foot drums , drum body slender, python skin drumhead no longer used , but made with sheepskin . Drum body with balsa wood , some complete logs hollowed out tree made of hearts . Entire drum body painted with bright colors and decorated with Queling hair , very beautiful . Department of drum body or other color yellow ribbons , hanging in drumming who left shoulder . Drumming people under Zuoxie drum clip , hands drumming surface . Before drumming , use sticky rice moisture drumhead to make drums coax Ming sweet. Drumming drums human side edge dance , slow time when tight drums, fast-paced . Drumming who is the organizer of the whole dance and directing . People dancing with joy drums , dancing dancing , ever changing .
4 saga
Source Dai foot drums along with a legendary story. Legend has it that in ancient times the Mengzhe area is a beautiful rippling lake . But entrenched pythons can lakeside magic and magic turtle , they commit a sin swallowed four people and livestock . Later, a warrior with a group of hunters Dai came to the lake , the elimination of the python swallowed livestock animals , take Piemonte in hollow trees and bamboo percussion fun , so they formed a drum . A few years later , two tame the drum into the shape of a human being like the foot of the leg , and since then Dai folk will have a foot drums .
5 ways of playing
Foot drums knock outs method is very rich, with performances often refers to the emotional needs , palm, fist , elbows , feet and use, drums numerous and varied . Drummer while knocking while dancing, swing drum made from time to time , thrown drums, shaking turned to other movements, very attractive.
Before you play , the foot drums hung on the shoulder straps , drum body diagonal body , and it can drum upright on the ground , his left hand held onto the rim , with the index finger , middle finger, ring finger , little finger and hand percussion drumhead with alternate . When playing orgasm or feeling warm, even elbows and feet also participated strike outs .
Playing methods forehand , nausea shot , referring to shoot ( with one finger ) , palm shoot and boxing ( half a fist ) and so on , right multi- hit remake , or emotional climax when playing a warm , even elbows and feet also participated in strike outs .
When Dai drummer playing drums in order to change the tone and pitch , also in the center of the drumhead paste balls with balls the size , thickness and to change the playing effect.
Foot drums because of different sizes and different pronunciation , drum sounds magnificent , rich, middle drum loud, high-spirited , snare crisp and bright.
Foot drums often combined with Mang gongs, cymbals Dai , Dai peacock as other folk dances in ethnic Dai opera orchestra or band , as often as the color of the foot drum rhythm instruments used. In addition, foot drums and dance also combine to perform as a solo show , this is the familiar “elephant foot encouraged .”
6 Classification
Long foot drums
Dance moves much to change the play , rich drums known . There are pointing to fight, finger play, play three fingers , slapped , punched , hit the elbow , and even feet hit head play, mostly one -man show , or dance accompaniment. Foot long elephant foot drums drum is one of the tallest , Dai said , ” Guangya ,” usually in 13O ~ 160 cm, up to a maximum of 190 cm , about 30 cm in diameter drumhead .
The foot drums
Generally with punches, some areas hit with a hammer . It is no more drums, the beat is generally an individual regions left fingers plus playing upbeat . To drum length , height and dance drum sounds when swinging tail size as the standard. It is said that the drum sound elderly , can play a drum mallet to unlock all the clothes button , and then a drum mallet buttoned all the buttons , the drum sound is still not finished . Encouraging step foot in a solid and stable as energetic , big action and big dance more . When the dance is not limited to the number of people came from sparring , a circle of people for a long time to play . Dai said the drum ” light swallow ,” is like a foot drum in a most versatile drum 60 to 95 cm high , 23 to 28 cm in diameter drumhead , drum bottom diameter 23 to 31 cm . Waist at the smallest diameter of 11 to 15 cm , commonly used as a foot encouraged or holiday celebration .
Small foot drums
Only more common in Xishuangbanna , dance flexible jumping to fight drum game drum characterized. Bucket and race in a flexible , witty attack, retreat , and finally seize each hat or header for the win . Generally the men race. Snare drum -like shape like a bantam pregnant , only 30 to 40 cm high , the application is better , widely medium-sized drums.
