Maddalam
Instrumental Music – Pancha Vadyam
Pancha Vadyam literally means an orchestra of five instruments. It is an art form of Kerala, South India which is centred around temples and festivals. The instruments used are “Maddalam”, “Thimila”, “Idakka”, “Kobmu”, “Elathalam” – Cymbal. Maddalam, Idakka and Thimila as we have seen already belong to the Membranophones family. Kombu is a Wind Instrument of the Aerophone family. Elathalam or Ilathalam is a metallic instrument having resemblance to Cymbals, made of bronze. Like Chenda Melams, Pancha Vadyam is based on the Seven-Beat Thripuda Thalam. But it also played on the Chempata Thalam having Eight Beats. Pancha Vadyam is peformed during temple rituals and festivals in Kerala. Typical Pancha Vadyam performance lasts abo...
Thimila
Thimila is another percussion drum instrument belonging to the Membranophones family of instrument widely used in Kerala, South India. It is also an hour-glass shaped double headed instrument with a hollow body, having skin heads on its both open ends. Thimila is mainly used for Pancha Vadyam and also in some temple rituals. It is also known as Paani. Thimila is also considered as a divine instrument and hence used for temple rituals like Sree-Bali, Sree-Bhootha-Bali etc. in temples. Construction The hollow body of Thimila is made of polished Jack Wood and its drumheads are made of Calf Skin. The skins are held together by leather braces. The braces are twined round the waste of the drum, helping in adjusting the tension and controlling the sound produced by the instrument. The body of Thi...
Maddalam
Maddalam (Madhalam) is a double headed drum instrument which looks like Mridangam but bigger and heavier than it. It has a projection on its body in the middle portion. Maddalam is used for Pancha Vadyam, Keli, Kathakali and Krishnanaattam. The name Maddalam has been derived from the Sanskrit word “Marddalam”, meaning something which receives pressure. Maddalam normally received beating on its left and right heads from the player. There are two varieties of Maddalam – Suddha Maddalam and Toppi Maddalam. Suddha Maddalam belongs to Avanaddha Vadya catagory of Musical Instruments which are basically Membranophones. The four Major Categories of Musical Instruments are Avanaddha Vadya, Ghana Vadya, Sushira Vadya and Tata Vadya. Avanaddha Vadya are Membranophones and Percussion...