Percussion instruments belong to the group of musical instruments
that were the first to be created. This round-shaped instrument,
which is called differently as Doyra, Dap, Childirma and Charmanda,
is regarded to be one of the ancient percussion instruments. Although
such instruments are widely used in various peoples, under various
names, made-on-stone pictures proving its antiquity and wide usage
in ritual ceremonies have been found in Saymalitosh region, Uzbekistan.
Doyra originated as a women-played instrument and spread widely
among Turkic peoples. Doyra is used as a major musical instrument
in the ritual ceremonies of Uzbeks (long before the spread of Islam)
that have remained up to now and are participated only by women. A
woman who leads the ceremony has her own instrument and the instrument
is used exclusively in this ceremony and at other time it is kept
in material covering or wrapped in a fabric. In every ceremony
an animal sacrifice’s blood is smeared on the Doyra and this
blood is called – renewal.
According to our speculations the Doyra was originally played not
with fingers but with special sticks. This method of performance
has remained in the performance of shamans of the Northern peoples.
Before the Doyra was used to coordinate simultaneousness of words,
phrases and movements made by everybody in religious ceremonies whereas
later it became a men-played instrument to accompany other musical
instruments and create rhythmical adaptation. The fact that
it was played by women can be seen in the folklore-ethnographic groups
survived by now in which women accompany the Doyra to their songs
and Azerbaijanian singers play the Doyra themselves. Even though
the rhythms played by women are very simple and easy to adapt to,
the rhythms played by men now differ greatly. The diameter
of the Doyra gradually grew smaller and smaller due to the change
of the method of performing it. Besides, after it had become
an instrument to constantly maintain musical rhythm it came into
custom to heat it (when it’s heated over the fire its sonorousness
rises). The diameter of Doyras used at the beginning and in
the middle of the past century was rather big and the sound was dull.
A tendency to use the Doyra much wider in the Uzbek music, development
of performing skills and its popularity started mainly in the second
quarter of the XX century primarily owing to Usta Olim Komilov.
Doyra belongs to the type of percussion instruments such as Nogora,
Kayrok, Safoil, Reznogora and Dol. It is found as a round musical
instrument in other Eastern countries too, including India, Afghanistan,
Iran, Pakistan and is performed along with songs and dances. The
instrument of Doyra is also played together with percussion instruments
of Latin American, African countries and the performance of Eastern
doyra-players impresses the world audience. One of the features
of the Uzbek National Art that has become an essential part of Uzbeks
is dances which are performed with the Doyra. The Doyra music
had no note-script before. It has survived up to our days orally
and by practical performance through generations. A famous
scientist A.I.Petrosyan having developed the note system of the Doyra
has created a method that involves 4 lines. The methods which
were written using one line before are nowadays modified to four
lines. At present
People’s artists of Uzbekistan like Tuychi Inogomov, Kahramon
Dadayev, Talat Sayfiddinov, Honored artist of Uzbekistan Elmurod
Islamov, Abbos Qosimov, Murod and Maruf Azimovs, Mamur Mirdadayev,
Khabibulla Rasulov as well as dozens of other performers are making
their great contribution to the development of the Doyra art and
to the spread of this invaluable instrument throughout the world.
Abbos Kosimov is a master of the Doyra, the Uzbek frame drum. In this new video, Abbos teaches you the basic strokes, development exercises, uzbek and tajik rhythms and demonstrates the level that this amazing drum can take.
The techniques are broken down into soft and hard strokes, open and closed strokes, and playing techniques involving snapping and the use of the inner drum rings.
Abbos clearly demonstrates from beginner to intermediate playing and will help develop your styling and stamina. This 2 DVD set also includes outstanding solos on the doyra, the nogara, and qiroq. Additionally we have put together many hard to find video clips and live solos of Abbos and his various ensembles.
Pre-Order your copy today. All orders will be shipped after April 14, 2008, with the pre-orders shipping first, so order now and be among the first to learn this dynamic drum from one of today's rising drum stars.
