The Dhakka (Idakka) - a melodic percussion instrument

[srkris]

Watch and comment please.

Revagupti Raga - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__w0sNx8RXQ
Neelambari Raga - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4W6CRMiU4c

[Nick H]

Amazing. What a pity the second clip is so short.

Somewhere I have a CD of solo Edakka, accompanied by violin. I don't remember if there is a mridangam there as well, though I think not.

[mahavishnu]

Beautiful!

There are many variants of the "talking drum" in other parts of the world (Africa and East Asia), but none even remotely as sophisticated melodically.

Here is a clip where it is used entirely as a rhythm instrument also in Kerala. The clarity of the "thi thankita thiku taka tari kita" that he is able to produce deserves special mention.

Nick, do you remember who the artiste was in that CD you mention? I will try to look for it here.

[Nick H]

I dug.

It has lost its front cover, which I vaguely think might have been in Malayalam, but the disc details are

"Edakka"
Sri Pallavoor Appumarar

And he has lots of accompanists: violin, mridangam and ghatam!

The CD is produced by Akhila Kereala Kshema Sabha, Trichur

Google seems to know about him, including, sadly, the fact that he died ten years ago.

[mahavishnu]

Sorry, forgot to paste the link in my last post.
Here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t9RpshgbK0

[mahavishnu]

Nick, thanks. I will look for it.

[Nick H]

The contents are Swami Ninne; Vathapi; Pahiparvatha; Kathiduvay; Chindhai Arindhu.

If any of those are ambiguous, and you need the ragam, I can post that too

[vasanthakokilam]

This is awesome. At one level, it is like a Veena player plucking the string to the beat and the ensuing melody. At another level, this integration of laya and melody is the epitome of the saying 'playing to the song' and it arises naturally. I am sure it will be awesome to hear a Korvai being played in this fashion. Kalpanaswara Korvai and Thani Korvai all rolled into one.