The Canarian drum

The Canarian drum is an instrument of artisanal manufacture and is also popular in all the Canary Islands. The materials used for its elaboration are wood and goat or baifo skin.

Additionally, this instrument also carries a metal plate and a rope. Next, we will be showing you important aspects of this instrument.

A popular instrument with a long tradition

In the Canary Islands the popular instruments have variations according to the islands that make up this place, although they have in common an element and are the folk groups that are quite well known and these practice percussion, wind and string instruments.

However, on the island of El Hierro and La Gomera is where the tradition of these percussion instruments has remained intact, although time has passed. Specifically in La Gomera, the Chácaras stand out in all the groups with a small drum.

But in the case of El Hierro Island, the Castañetas stand out that are very similar to the Andalusian ones, also the whistle that looks very similar to the transverse flute and also some drums that have larger dimensions.

In Canarias Shop we have a drum section 

The rubber drum

This is a fairly typical percussion instrument on the island of La Gomera and was also inherited by the islander aborigines. It is made of wood and patches of baifo skin and this is played standing.

Placing this drum in a vertical position, it must be struck with a drumstick which produces a vibration that is typical in this type of instrument. In addition, it goes with the chácaras both in traditional songs and in typical dances of this island.

The use of this instrument has been witnessed by most of the Gomeros and additionally it is another sign of identity as a people. This has accompanied them in many moments of their lives and it is typical to play the Drum Dance or the Tajaraste.

As already mentioned, this is manufactured in an artisanal way and the main materials for this are wood, it is the most common in the wicker and also the baifo skin. Another quite important part would be the metal cord that is responsible for the vibrating sound.

The rubber drum has a measure around 35 centimeters in circumference, it consists of a box that measures 8 centimeters in height and also 2 rings of 4 centimeters in which a boatman line is tied. This means that it is a rope on which the patches of baifo skin tighten.

History

The use of this instrument has history, since Europeans found the inhabitants playing them when they arrived on the island. He has been accompanying them in many areas of life such as Christmas Eve Mass, baptisms and religious celebrations.

In many days of work in the field, also in patron saint festivities. It became fundamental in the different pilgrimages. Even when the funeral is held it is known as the wake of little angels.

It is a rather curious funeral rite that began to be celebrated in the early twentieth century just when a child under 7 years of age died. There they sang some verses such as the following:

·          And your mother was warm

·          To heaven you ascend Mary

·          Dead the child and sings the father

·          Oh good God, so great pain

In this way it was thought that the child reached heaven much faster. Besides, it was forbidden to cry because if you cried the line was cut. They always danced and sang to the rhythm of the drums just until they reached the cemetery.

This instrument was always accompanied by the chácara. Then with the arrival of the Spaniards, it has continued to be the protagonist of the history of the Canary Islands. Currently, although many customs have been lost in which this instrument was heard.

This drum continues to be the most important traditional instrument, it goes next to the chácaras of the music that is traditional on the island of La Gomera.

The Herreño drum

This is a percussion instrument that is quite typical on the island of El Hierro. It is made in an artisanal way and has wood next to patches of baifo skin. It is also played standing up and struck with two drumsticks that are made of beech wood.

It is a robust instrument quite sonorous, it has dimensions that make it larger than the rubber drum. Its sound is typical, it goes hand in hand with the pito herreño and also the chácaras, it sounds a lot on the day of the Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes which is the most important festival on the island.

This is a drum that can be manufactured in different sizes, from small ones for children, to drums of large volumes and also about 12 kg in weight. This has ropes with which the patches of baifo skin are tightened and placed in a Y-shape.

An important aspect that is very striking of the drums of El Hierro is its color, it is green and also has an upper and lower circumference that go brown, specifically in the central part.

Here pieces such as the Dance of the Virgin are played, or also some others such as the Dance of Live that can be played with a single drumstick.

Its manufacture

The only person who manufactures these drums following the order is Dámaso Padrón who currently lives in El Pinar. It tells how they can be made by hand. The process goes through the following:

·          Goat skin should be tanned. This is done by stretching and nailing on a wood in which salt is applied.

E· Assoon as it is well tanned, the hair should be shaved. On the other hand, you need to cut the piece of zinc ring and weld it.

·          The result of this will be that the cylinder opens at both ends.

·          The wood used is Canarian pine and must have been soaked for a week to be able to work it.

·          It must be cut and coated this piece of zinc and close the ends of the cylinder with baifo skin.

·          With a thin wooden ring you will tighten the skin and the other rings are placed superimposed.

·          Finally, you must tie with pita rope while the full drum is tightened.