Tabla is the name of the most popular drums
of modern
India. Tabla is a pair of drums played with the fingers while seated
on the floor. The “Dhaya” or right-hand drum is made of hollowed
out wood, and the “Bhaya” or left-hand drum is shaped of rounded hollow
metal in the shape of a kettle. Both
are spread with tanned leather hide tops and have a “shahi” or circle of
black iron filings mixed with paste to form a resonating pad on each drum
head. The sounds made by the strokes of the various fingers and
combinations of fingers and palms are known as “bols” and can be spoken
like instructions for the drummer to follow. The instrument is popular
played in a solo performance as well as played in accompaniment to a
lyrical or melodic performance. It can make so many different sounds, it
is known as the “talking drum".
Pt. Charanjit Chaturlal is one of the foremost
exponents of tabla in India today. In addition to teaching many students
in the USA and other countries in his earlier years, he has taught
students in America for annual month-long sessions in 2001 - 2004. He is a regular visiting professor at Ganesh Academy of
Indian Arts.
Tabla is a pair of drums played with the fingers while seated
on the floor. The “Dhaya” or right-hand drum is made of hollowed
out wood, and the “Bhaya” or left-hand drum is shaped of rounded hollow
metal in the shape of a kettle. Both
are spread with tanned leather hide tops and have a “shahi” or circle of
black iron filings mixed with paste to form a resonating pad on each drum
head. The sounds made by the strokes of the various fingers and
combinations of fingers and palms are known as “bols” and can be spoken
like instructions for the drummer to follow. The instrument is popular
played in a solo performance as well as played in accompaniment to a
lyrical or melodic performance. It can make so many different sounds, it
is known as the “talking drum".
