Kudüm
Encyclopedia
Kudüm is one of the most fundamental rhythm instruments in classical Turkish music. The person
playing it is called kudümzen. It is among ney
, rebap, and halile
as one of the
four main instruments in Mevlevi
music.
It consists of a pair of small, hemispherical drums. Traditionally kudüm was played in religious
ceremonies; in a secular context, like in mehter music,
its slightly bigger cousin nakkare
is played.
The drums are some 28-30 cm. in diameter and about 16 cm high, growing narrower toward the bottom like a half-sphere. They are made of beaten copper, and resemble two bowls, one larger than the other. The difference in the thickness of the skin in the two bowls create a difference in pitch: the high-pitched drum (tek) is placed on the left, the other (düm) on the right. The tek, with its thinner skin, is slightly smaller than the düm. The tension in the skin can be adjusted
to tune the instrument according to the makam
of the music being played. Camel's skin is usually preferred, although
sometimes cattle or llama
is also used. The drums are placed on two leather links filled with cotton to prevent them from
slipping and to avoid direct contact with the floor to get the right sound. The kudüm is played with two wooden sticks made of
soft wood known as zahme. The metal body of the kudüm is generally covered with leather to prevent it giving off a tinny sound.
Historically, the kudüm was played and developed by the Mevlevi
s in religious ceremonies.
In fact, it was not until the 20th century
that the instrument was used in mainstream Turkish classical music. It was used in a nonreligious setting
for the first time in 1947 in a concert organized by the Üsküdar Musical Association. In 1957, the first
radio performance was performed by Kudümzen Hurşit Ungay. Cafer Açın was an instrument maker who made
important changes in the making of the instrument in the latter half of the 20th century. Sadettin Heper
is also an important composer whose music involved the instrument.
playing it is called kudümzen. It is among ney
Ney
The ney is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. It is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of ney players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids and actual neys being found...
, rebap, and halile
Cymbal
Cymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
as one of the
four main instruments in Mevlevi
Mevlevi
The Mevlevi Order, or the Mevlevilik or Mevleviye are a Sufi order founded in Konya by the followers of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian. They are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form...
music.
It consists of a pair of small, hemispherical drums. Traditionally kudüm was played in religious
ceremonies; in a secular context, like in mehter music,
its slightly bigger cousin nakkare
Naqareh
The naqqāra is a drum with a rounded back and a hide head. It is thus a membranophone.The term naqqāra , also naqqarat, naqqarah, naqqåre, nakkare, nagora comes from the Arabic verb naqr- that means "to strike, beat".-Construction:The rounded section of a naqqara is made of baked clay, while the...
is played.
The drums are some 28-30 cm. in diameter and about 16 cm high, growing narrower toward the bottom like a half-sphere. They are made of beaten copper, and resemble two bowls, one larger than the other. The difference in the thickness of the skin in the two bowls create a difference in pitch: the high-pitched drum (tek) is placed on the left, the other (düm) on the right. The tek, with its thinner skin, is slightly smaller than the düm. The tension in the skin can be adjusted
to tune the instrument according to the makam
Makam
Makam In Turkish classical music, a system of melody types called makam provides a complex set of rules for composing and performance...
of the music being played. Camel's skin is usually preferred, although
sometimes cattle or llama
Llama
The llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-Hispanic times....
is also used. The drums are placed on two leather links filled with cotton to prevent them from
slipping and to avoid direct contact with the floor to get the right sound. The kudüm is played with two wooden sticks made of
soft wood known as zahme. The metal body of the kudüm is generally covered with leather to prevent it giving off a tinny sound.
Historically, the kudüm was played and developed by the Mevlevi
Mevlevi
The Mevlevi Order, or the Mevlevilik or Mevleviye are a Sufi order founded in Konya by the followers of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian. They are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form...
s in religious ceremonies.
In fact, it was not until the 20th century
that the instrument was used in mainstream Turkish classical music. It was used in a nonreligious setting
for the first time in 1947 in a concert organized by the Üsküdar Musical Association. In 1957, the first
radio performance was performed by Kudümzen Hurşit Ungay. Cafer Açın was an instrument maker who made
important changes in the making of the instrument in the latter half of the 20th century. Sadettin Heper
Sadettin Heper
Sadettin Heper was a composer of Turkish music considered as an important link to the world of Turkish Mevlevi music before the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923...
is also an important composer whose music involved the instrument.