The Structure of Kurdistan Daf (III)

Researcher:
Mohammad Tarighat

Translator:
Fatemeh Alimohammadi

There are different definitions for the structure and sound of Daf from other aspects rooted in mythical and holy-oriented beliefs. Pahlavan says the following regarding this matter:

“Our ancestors believe powerful blows upon the Daf scatters evil spirits of disease and distress to create a clean and holy space filled with health and prosperity. Adding tools to Daf increases this instrument’s purification, spreading, and summoning powers of evil forces and goddesses. Daf was mostly depicted by red, color of blood, in ancient times or sometimes it was depicted with green, the color of plants and nature. There were probably some mysterious designs painted upon the wooden body and frames of these instruments just like today” (Pahlavan, 2013: 44).

Also, Mohammad Reza Darvishi in his book entitled “Encyclopedia of Music”, quoted from Ahmad Tusi, Mohammad Tusi’s son, in Sama and Fotovvat, interprets Daf in relation to playing it and to Daf player: “The circle of Daf refers to the circle of the universe and the skin stretched on Daf, refers to the absolute existence and the beat on Daf, refers to the entry of divine inspirations from depths of hidden into the absolute existence and Daf player individual, is a reference to the position of truth, through which the people’s soul are placed in the trap of love” (Darvishi, 2016: 396).

It is believed that Daf player extends his two hands to the sky in a state of prayer and supplication, so it is necessary to be recited with a mystical and prayerful slogan. Daf is never placed on the ground by the skin and this act is considered insulting the position of this instrument and indirectly to religious beliefs (Naqib Sardasht, 2007: 300). If Daf skin is torn during the ceremony, mystics say that the Daf has been “martyred”. If the skin is prepared from Haram* animals, it is Haram to bring it to the monastery. At the end of ceremony, the Daf is kissed and hung on the wall; with the special Daf of this ceremony, frivolous and farcical melodies are never performed because it is considered a sin by the mystics. Also, these Dafs are not entrusted to persons who are not authorized to maintain it (Nasrollahpour, 1999: 78).

According to the mystics, Daf is a symbol of monastery; Daf rings, indicate number of disciples and thumb index, is the entrance of monastery. Thumb index is in a semicircular and concave form and when one holds the Daf, completes this concavity and forms a link between himself and the Daf. The Center of Daf is considered as a symbol of God (Ahmadi, 2019: 11).

Other ceremonies in which Daf and Daf playing have great value can be called “Mowludi khani”, “welcoming and accompanying the religious scholars and mystics”, and “welcoming pilgrims”. In following, a brief explanation will be given about Mowludi and Mowludi khani.

The month of Rabi al-Aval is known among the Kurds as Mowlud month which Mowludi khani in description of the Prophet (PBUH) is the most basic program of this month. Ebrahim Moradi believes: “The Kurds believe that holding Mowludi khani ceremonies in their home, increases their livelihood and keeps pain and misery away from family members” (Moradi, 2020: 51).

The role of Daf and Daf playing in Iranian music is of special importance in three forms “solo”, “accompaniment”, and “group playing”.

 

___________________

*Haram” means forbidden and anti-halal. In religious terms is something that is forbidden by God and doing it is considered a sin.

Post a Comment

Required fields are marked *
*
*
Your email is never shared.

Lilly Afshar, Iranian Guitar Legend, passed away

The text you are reading is about Hamed Fathi, a guitarist and one of Lilly Afshar’s students, which was previously published on the Persian website HarmonyTalk.com:

Mohammad Esmaili passes away

Master Mohammad Ismaili, a prominent musician and renowned tombak player, passed away on August 13, 2023, after battling an illness in the ICU of Rasoul Akram Hospital. His funeral will take place on Thursday, August 17, at 10 am in front of Vahdat Hall, and he will be laid to rest in the Artists’ Section of Behesht Zahra Cemetery.

From Past Days…

Musical Sense or Technique?

One of the most popular terms used by Iranian instrumentalists is the existence or a lack of musical “sense”. Both musicians and fans of music consider having “sense” while playing music as an important principle to the extent that they use it vis-a-vis having technique.

A Promising Concert by National Instruments Orchestra

The National Instruments Orchestra of Iran performed its first concert amid much hope and anxiety on July 18, 2015. The Orchestra is founded by Roudaki Cultural and Arts Foundation which is a semi-private foundation in Iran. The Arts Director for the National Instruments Orchestra of Iran is cand the Orchestra Executive Director is Sadjad Pourghand.

Hossein Aslani passed away!

Hossein Aslani, Iranian pianist residing in the US, passed away due to cancer in late January 2020. His last musical activity was an article written for Harmony Talk entitled “Iran amidst musical struggle” in 2016, his memoir entitled “I Play You Again” in the same year and his album “Symbolic Emotion” published by Arganoun Publications in 2014. Here is a brief biography of Hossein Aslani according to his own website:

Iannis Xenakis’ Persephassa

Shiraz Arts Festival which was held in Shiraz from 1967 to 1977 featured many contemporary renowned artists who were commissioned by the Iranian royalty to compose or create works of art for performance in the arts festival. Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001) participated in Shiraz Arts Festival three times in 1968, 1969 and 1971. The Greek-French composer,…
Read More »

Developments in Iranian Music Since Qajar Era (I)

At the end of the Qajar era and as Iran entered the power transition period, known as the constitutional era, the Iranian music went through a lot of changes. These changes gained momentum as the students and followers of Ali Naqi Vaziri’s entered the musical scene. These changes greatly influenced designs of instruments, playing methods, singing, composing, etc.

A Look at Ali Tajvidi’s Manifold Musical Activities (I)

Ali Tajvidi (1920 – 2004), one of the most prominent Iranian musicians, passed away sixteen years ago. He was one of the most distinguished Iranian artists. To specify one of the fields in which he was unique, one can refer to Tasnif composition. A brief review of his manifold musical activities is presented below.

Principles of Violin Playing (III)

Violin players should always pay attention to the proper position of the left thumb and other points related to it and to its joining point to the palm.

Principles of Violin Playing (X)

Creating sound continuity between two notes in the source and destination positions when left hand position changes and “two different finger numbers” are involved is called portamento. Portamento can be performed on single string or two neighboring strings and with hand moving on fingerboard either upward or downward.

The Mystery of Messiah

Antonio Stradivari (1644 – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and is considered the most significant and greatest artisan in this field.

Rouhollah Khaleghi Artistic Center established in Washington DC

Golnoush Khaleghi (1941-2021), a Washington-based Persian musician and the daughter of the contemporary Persian (Iranian) composer and theoretician Rouhollah Khaleghi (1906-1965) founded a musical center called RKAC to keep the name and the work of her father alive.