If I had been alive during the Bronze Age (2000 - 700 BCE), I seriously
doubt that it would have occurred to me to use the skin of an alligator
to make a drum.
In fact, I believe I would have avoided going anywhere near alligators
altogether. Fortunately for the Chinese culture, the ancient Chinese
obviously did not share my fears. The earliest known drums in China
date from four to six thousand years ago, around the time of the Shang
Dynasty (c.1600 - c.1100 BCE) and they were made of clay and (you
guessed it) alligator skin. Thanks to those very early innovators,
China has a long and proud tradition of utilizing drums and other percussion instruments in its native music.
Chinese drums have come a long way since those first instruments of the
Shang Dynasty. They have been incorporated into a variety of societal
facets over the centuries, including religion, farming, warfare and of
course, entertainment. In China, the color red has always been
associated with power and luck, and accordingly red drums have been
used as both a symbol and bringer of power to rulers and armies. Such
instruments are still used in ceremonies such as weddings and other
festivities.
China is generally credited with bringing drums to the nations of Korea
and Japan. The famous Japanese taiko drums, for example, are thought to
be the result of very early Chinese influence. The same can be said of
the Korean galgo and the Japanese kakko, both of which are
hourglass-shaped drums thought to be descended from the Chinese jiegu.
Interestingly, although this drum is no longer used in China, its
relatives can still be seen and heard in both Korea and Japan.
In modern China, drums are commonly used in more secular performances,
often to striking effect. At no time has this been more apparent than
at the recent Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, which featured
countless synchronized drummers in an amazing feat of percussion and
artistic performance. No one who watched that ceremony could doubt the
importance of drums in Chinese culture.
If one attends the performance of a modern Chinese orchestra, drums are
bound to be in evidence. The paigu is a set of seven small, tuned
drums, and it is often used in professional musical groups. Other
percussion instruments, including drums of all pitches and sizes, are
also common. Another place to see and hear traditional drums in China
is at a lion dance,
a form of traditional dance during which performers dress as lions and
mimic the animals' movements. Such dances can be performed in the
northern or southern fashion, the former being the traditional imperial
style, the latter purely for entertainment. Both types, however,
utilize drum music during the performance. The lion dance also has
close associations with the martial art of kung fu, which means that
drums are also often used during martial arts performances as well. The
drum music at any of these performances is powerful and vital, in
accordance with the dancers' and artists' movements.
Article by: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards,
sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best
marketplace at these sites for drums, Chinese drums, sheet music, guitar tabs, and home theater audio.
