daf isn't daff imo
daf is
A
daf is a large-sized
frame drum used to accompany both popular and classical music in
Arabia,
Iraq,
Syria,
Iran,
Azerbaijan,
Kurdistan and other countries of the
Middle East. Some dafs are equipped with rings or small cymbals, making them a form of
tambourine.
History
The earliest evidence of Daf dates back to Sassanid Iran. The
Pahlavi (an ancient Iranic language) name of Daf is
dap. The word daf is therefore the arabicized form of the word dap. Some pictures of dap have been found in the paintings to be painted before the birth of Christ. The presence of Iranian dap in the reliefs of
Bisotun is enlightening and is hard proof that dafs existed long before the rise of Islam. Dafs were part of religious music in Iran much before Sufism. In fact, Iranian music has always been a spiritual tool. It shows that dafs played an important role in Mazdean Iran emerging as an important element during the Sassanian times during the
Kâvusakân dynasty. The monuments of Bisotun are situated 25 kilometers from
Kermanshah city. Also there is a kind of square frame drum in the stonecutting of Tagh-e-Bostan (another famous monument located 5 kilometers northeast from Kermanshah city). These frame drums were played in the ancient Middle East (chiefly by women in
Kurd societies), Greece, and Rome and reached medieval Europe through Islamic culture.
Norouz (the first day of the Iranic New Year and the national festival of
the Iranic peoples) and other festive occasions have been accompanied by dap in
Sassanid periods (224 A.D. - 651 A.D.). In this period dap was played in order to accompany Iranian classical music. Undoubtedly daps were used in the court to be played in the modes and melodies of traditional music. This traditional or classical music was created by Barbod the Great and was named the
khosravani after the King Khosrow (Chosroes). Recent research reveals that these modes were used in the recitation of Mazdean (Zoroastrian) prayers. The modes were passed down from master to student and are today known as the Radif and Dastgah system. Many of the melodies were lost, but most of those that remain date to the Sassanid period. Dafs can be played to produce highly complex and intense ryhthms, causing one to go under a trance and reach an ecstatic and spiritually-high state. For this reason, they have always been connected with religion in Iran, again, much before Islam.
The
Moors introduced Daf and other Middle Eastern musical instruments to
Spain, and the Spanish adapted and promoted Daf and other musical instruments (such as the
guitar) in medieval Europe. In the 15th century, daf was only used in
Sufi ceremonies; the
Ottomans reintroduced it to Europe in 17th century.
The art of daf playing in [Eastern Kurdistan] and other parts of
Iran has reached us by the effort of Iranian Sufis; especially in 20th century by the late
Sayyed Baha-al-Din Shams Ghorayshi (1872-1947),
Ostad Haj Khalifeh Karim Safvati (1919-…),
Ostad Haj Khalifeh Mirza Agha Ghosi (1928-…),
Mohi-al-Din Bolbolani (1929-…),
Sayyed Mohammad Shams Ghorayshi (1930-…) and
Masha-Allah Bakhtiyari (1940-…).
It is fortunate that daf still functions as an important part of Kurdish and Persian art music (traditional or classical music) as it did in ancient times. It successfully encourages many young Iranians to take up learning this ancient instrument.
A thin band made of hard wood, covered with goatskin on one side. It can also have rings or small cymbals along the rim. In these regions, the daff is held with both hands at shoulder height. Tones of various depth and colours are played by hitting different spots on the skin with the fingers. There is also an Oriental technique of leaning the daff against the knees. The daff is a percussion instrument with a soft, deep tone. It is suitable for playing indoors and to accompany singers and players on the tambura, violin, oud, saz and other Oriental instruments.
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