CONTENT
Drums
and drumming occupy a conspicuous position in the annals of Sri Lanka over
several centuries, our country has been an evolution in the traditions of drums
and their usage from the humble Dandu Beraya, which was carved from bamboo, to
more complex instruments, Sri Lanka have been innovating and inventing and
inventing a myriad of drums to suit various purposes from one generation to the
next.
The
existence of various types of drums and drumming is mentioned in many distinguished
historical accounts including Mahavasama, where drums were described as “Nana
thuriya sanghutto”, as well as on ancient pillar inscription copper plates and
deeds. Apart from these, one comes across references in historical work and the
writings of foreign visitors such as lbn Battuta, Robert Knox, Queiros, Fa-hien
and Baldarus. Most of these were written before the down of the 18th
century.
Commentary
to the Great Chronicle also elucidates the ancient system of clarification of
drums under five headings, namely Atata, Vitata, Atata Vitata, Susira and
Ghana.
During
the period of King Dutugamunu, drums were employed as a means of communication
and royal proclamation.
The
messages from the Royal court and the sojourns of the king were announced by
beating drums. Each and every festival was conducted using specific types of
drums such as the Veena Bera Mihingu Bera.
The
perumiyankulam inscriptions of king vassabha, during the 1st century
A.D, mentions a type of drums which was employed to announce matters related to
the Royal Court King Nissankamalla too followed the same custom, according to
the several historical inscriptions. Thus, one can say that drums were used not
only as instrument to communicate but also as a means of entertainment among
many layers of society.
Various
sculptural artifacts found in Medirigiriya, the 12th century
Kotavehera and the Siva Devala in Polonnaruwa bear evidence of sculptural
representations of musicians, dancers and drummers.
Literary
work such as the Dharma Pradeepica and Kavyasekaraya to deal with the many type
of drums and amply illustrate the existence of a drums culture for 2500 years.
The
Amarakosha, a lexicon of the 12th century and its paraphrase the
Abhidanappradipika, Ruvanmal and the Ummagga Jathaka too, describe drums in their
works.
Murals
of Galapata Viharaya, Benthra Devundara Devalaya, Mulkirigala, Kataluwa, Gadaladeniya
and performances. Popular message poems or ‘Sandeshas’ such as kovul,
Salalihini, Savul and Kahakurulu to describe a society aesthetically.
The
names of drums mentioned in these historical documents are numerous. Among
them, the Kumba Bera, pataha Bera, Mridanga, Muraja, Maddala, Ekes Bera, Loha
Bera, Kotum Bera, Yuwala Bera, Maha Bera, Deduru Bera, Tundi Bera, Pokuru Bera,
Tammattam, Talappara, Nisaana, Virandam, Anukakkulee, Sirivil, Tappu, Dekki,
Damaru, Maddu, Udekki, Daula, Jina Daula, Loho Daula, Bombili, Getapahatu,
Mahumakudam, Marikuttam, Timbilu, Dudugu Bera and Waddara speak of a rich
heritage in the cultural and religious history of our country.
Geta Beraya
Mridangam
A drum employed
by Hindu devotees of Sri Lanka during religious and social activities. It is
used to keep rhythm during these functions. This practice originated in South
India. The accepted belief is that when the body of the drum is shorter it
begets finer tones. Therefore various sizes of drums are used by the musicians
according to their need.
The diameter of one face is about 5
to 6 inches and it consists of 3 planes of hide. They are known as veddu
Thaddu, koddu is played while seated, positioned on the player’s lap.
Yak Beraya
The low country drum is also called
the Ruhunu Beraya, Yak Beraya or the Goshaka Beraya. It is used in the southern
coastal area known as the ‘Pahatha Rata’. The Yak Beraya is the main drum used
to accompany dance sequences in this religion of Sri Lanka.
This cylindrical drum is covered with
the stomach lining of cattle and turned out of wood from Kitul, Coconut,
Kohombha, Ehela and Milla trees. The drummere plays the instrument by hand
whilst tied around the waist. Some players decorate the trunk of their drums with
various motifs or fix stainless steel bars around the body.
Banku Rabana
The Maha (big) Rabana or Banku
(bench) Rabana is used at wedding festival in Sri Lanka.
It also symbolizes the spring
festivals of the country. Generally women are the best players of the banku
rabana and practice a special system of Raban Pada among them.
One reads out the beat loudly and
plays it in collaboration with other. Some of the onlookers would enjoy the
music with dance. The Rabana is kept on three wooden trunks about 18 inches
high and the leader kindles fire under the instrument. The face of the
instrument varies in diameter from 24 to 48 inches. Apart from playing the
Rabana by hand, some elder use eakles as well.
Thammattama
The Thammattama consists of two
separate pieces. It is called the Pokuru Beraya and also referred to as the
cluster of drum.
This twinset of drum are of different
sizes. As this is a twinset ‘Ubhayatala’ The top side is covered with cattle
hide and the body turned out of wood from Milla, Kohombaha, Jak and Ehela
trees. The left side produces high pitched tones. These drums are played with
two special stick fashioned out of kirindi
The Thammattama is an essential
instrument during religious services at Buddhist temple and shrines.
Bummadiya
In shape, the Bummadiya is like a
water vessel or a clay pot. It is prepared after burning in a kilin. This
instrument has only one face and its diameter is between 6 to 8 inches.
Animal hides (goat, monkey or monitor
lizard) are used to cover the face. In kandyan villages this drum is played
while harvesting paddy. The body of the drum is decorated in colorful motifs.
The drum is hung on the player’s
shoulder with the assistance of a Savaram or connecting wire. Kala Ham or
Kalabera are synonyms for the Bummadiya.
Daula
The Daula is the main musical
instrument utilized for the rituals of the Sabaragamuwa tradition of dancing.
It is an essential instrument in the Buddhist ceremonies and Hevisi
performance. The Daula Is used in the religious precessions.
The drum is 15 inches in length and
has an approximate face diameter of about 16 inches.
The body of the Daula is painted in
colors and in the hill country these decorations are known as ‘Mevara Keliya’
In this exercise, ancient motifs are usually painted on the instrument. Both faces
of the drum are covered with cattle or goats hide.
One face of the Daula is played with
a stick know as a kadippu and the other by hand.
Udekkiya
The Udekkiya is very hand drum
predominantly used during Kandyan rituals and folk dances. It is played with
one hand while handing and controlling the sound by pressure applied on the
string and Sawarama with other various type of wood such as Handun, Jak, Ehela,
Gansuriya and Kohomba trees along with metals like silver and brass are used to
carve and construct the drums wooden structures are gaily decorated with
lacquer work. The drum faces are covered with goat, monkey, or monitor lizard
hide.
The length of an Udekkiya is about 11
inches. The middle is thin and named ‘giriya’ or ‘gela’ which means neck is
Sinhalese. The face called the Valagamba is not used to produce sound in this
drum.
Dandu Beraya
The word ‘dandu’ is derived from
‘danda’ in Sanskrit which mean ‘wood’. This unique drum was used as an
instrument for communication purposes and in folk dancing as well. The drummer
utilizes two trick made out of Atteriya to play the instrument. These sticks
are 8 to 12 inches in length. The drum is played while tied to the waist of the
players and is unique since it does not use animal hide to produce sound.
Spinning was a cottage industry in many lands. Kuveni was spinning when
Prince Wijaya landed in Sri Lanka. Weaving was a domestic industry in England too, till the invention of the flying shuttle and the spinning jenny. These inventions simplified the use of the machine. It could now be
worked by power. It brought a tremendous change on human life, in terms of speed and volume.
The modern textile technology has influenced the ready-made garment
industry in Sri Lanka. Factories have been set up in cities and rural areas,
providing employment for both men and women. Mostly young rural women have taken up employment in these factories. Ready-made garments are exported to America, United Kingdom, France and other European countries. Fashion shows in modern trends are held in leading cities allover the world to promote the garments produced in Sri Lanka. The industry has become a leading foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka.