Idakka on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The idakka (), also spelt edaykka/edakka, is an hourglass-shaped drum from
The Malayalam name ''idaykka'' or ''idakka'' derives from the 
The idakka (), also spelt edaykka/edakka, is an hourglass-shaped drum from Kerala
Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...
in south India, very similar to the pan-Indian damaru. While the damaru is played by rattling knotted cords against the resonators, the idakka is played with a stick. Like the damaru, the idakka's pitch may be bent by squeezing the lacing in the middle. The idakka is slung over the left shoulder and the right side of the instrument is gently beaten with a thin curve-ended stick. It is played in temples and in performances such as Kathakali and Mohiniattam classical dance.
Etymology
The Malayalam name ''idaykka'' or ''idakka'' derives from the Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
word श्रीढक्का (''Śrīḍhakkā''). In Sanskrit, a ''ḍhakkā'' is described as a double drum that makes a ''ḍhak'' sound. ढक् इति गम्भीरशब्देन कायतीति (ḍhak iti gambhīraśabdēna kāyatīti). The sacred prefix Śrī is used to denote the auspiciousness of the instrument.
Construction
Similar to the talking drum, the idakka consists of two circular drumheads each of which is mounted within a circular ring. The hourglass-shaped body is placed between the two heads and lacing is used to pull the two rings towards each other, stretching each drumhead over an open end of the body. Snare-like strings made of natural fiber are stretched across the open ends of the drum body, under each drumhead. It is not uncommon for the diameter of the drumheads to be larger than the diameter of the body, with the result that the drumheads are often seen mounted significantly off-center.Acoustics
The idakka is a small, high-pitched drum with definite pitch. The snares running under the drumheads have been found to interact with the vibrating membrane in a way that causes the pitch of the instrument to be determinate. Different pitches can be obtained by squeezing the lacing around the instrument, which changes the amount of tension in the skins.See also
* Damaru * Pandi Melam * Panchari melam * Thayambaka * Panchavadyam * Tripunithura Krishnadas * Talking Drum, another drum inWest Africa
West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations geoscheme for Africa#Western Africa, United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Gha ...
with an hour-glass shape.
References
{{Culture of Kerala Kathakali Mohiniyattam Drums Membranophones Indian musical instruments Kerala music