Jambé is a West African drum in the form of a cup with an open narrow bottom and a wide top, on which a leather membrane is stretched - most often goat. In form, it refers to the so-called cup-shaped drums , in sound formation - to membranophones . They play djemba with their hands. Previously unknown to the West, since its "discovery" it has gained immense popularity.
| Djembe | |
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| Sound example | |
| Classification | percussion instrument , membrane |
Content
History
Djembe is a traditional instrument of Mali . It became widespread due to the powerful state of Mali , founded in the 13th century, from where djembe penetrated the whole territory of West Africa - to Senegal , Guinea , to the Ivory Coast , etc. However, it became known to the West only in the 1950s . XX century, when the music and dance ensemble Les Ballets Africains , founded by Guinean musician, composer, writer, playwright and politician, Fodeb Keita began to give performances around the world. In subsequent years, interest in jamba grew rapidly and strongly; Now this instrument is very popular and is used in a great variety of musical groups.
Building
Djembe made only from a single piece of wood. There is a similar type of drum that is made from glued strips of wood, it is called ashiko . A membrane is most often goat skin; the skin of an antelope , zebra , deer or cow is a little less common. The average height is about 60 cm , the average diameter of the membrane is 30 cm. The tension of the skin is regulated using a rope (often passed through metal rings) or using special clamps; the case is sometimes decorated with carvings or paintings . Thanks to the cup-shaped shape, the Helmholtz resonance effect arises, which provides a deep and booming bass.
There are many opinions about the influence of hardness of wood species on sound quality, however, it should also be taken into account that the final result is much more dependent on the skill of the master, and the choice of breed is more likely to be available in the specific area where the djemba is produced, of various species and varieties of wood . Authors of home-made jambes often cut spiral or drop-shaped grooves inside percussion, which, in their opinion, should enrich the sound, however, the question of the effect of the result on the sound remains open due to the small number of such experiments and the lack of real research on this issue. Enthusiastic jembe lovers can also seriously discuss the breed and degree of domestication of an animal whose skin goes to the membrane, considering these factors important to get a good sound, however, given the flow rate and the primitive level of jembe production in Africa, the lack of specialized livestock for producing membranes (animals are used, grown or mined for food), common standards for the storage and processing of hides, as well as the remoteness of production from the final buyer, is neither possible nor reliably nat on animal hide that went into the production of this particular drum, or gather the statistical basis for the possible approval of the superiority of one over the other types of skins, or one type of treatment over another. In any case, it is worth remembering that inexpensive djembe are often made poorly, and can serve only for decorative purposes.
Game Technique
They play jamb with two hands. There are three main sounds : low beat (bass), high (tone) and slap-voiced (slap). The player is standing, while the drum is suspended on a special belt or placed on a special rack. Djemba is often played while sitting, while the drum is clamped between the legs. Some simply sit on an instrument lying on the ground, but this setting has a huge drawback: the instrument is not designed for the weight of a person sitting on it and may begin to crack, when rope is set up, the ropes can be damaged by friction against the ground, dust and sand can get inside the drum and damage the membrane over time and most importantly, in this position it is much more difficult to play due to the fact that more muscular effort is applied to the forearms.
Often kessing is attached to the djembe - special aluminum plates in the form of a sheet. The edges are perforated and equipped with rings that tinkle when playing. This accessory creates a dry sound effect when playing
Playing on a djembe requires skillful alternation of focusing and dispersion of the force of a blow by hand: for high and low strokes, tension is necessary, for a slap, relaxation of the hand. Traditional rhythms are played with palms; many bring the game with their fingers using rolls, membrane friction, clicks, etc.
Djembe virtuosi
- Count Ossie
- Babatunde Olatunji
- Gerald Achee
- Mamady Keïta
- Famoudou Konaté