Iranian drum, lamb skin?

[michi]

I just got the weirdest of enquiries via email. Someone asking me about an Iranian hand drum that is made with the skin of an unborn lamb, and whether I could repair it. I strongly suspect that I might find it a little difficult to procure the skin of an unborn lamb…

I've never heard of such a drum, and my Google search didn't locate anything.

Anyone have an idea of he's talking about?

Cheers,

Michi.

[e2c]

It's likely a tombak, aka zarb.

You can find out more here, for starters: http://nasehpour.tripod.com/peyman/id36.html

and here (a very knowledgeable instrument sales guy who speaks German): http://www.santoori.com/index.html ** Has skins for sale.

I've heard that "skin of an unborn lamb" thing before and am not sure that it's true... afaik, most people use goatskin, but it's definitely worth checking with either or both of the sources I've posted.

[michi]

Hi e2c,

thanks heaps for that info!

Cheers,

Michi.

[e2c]

De nada, michi!

I am a big, big fan of Iranian percussion, and want a daf (Kurdish-style, you can see a couple of the santoori.com site) of my own. I *could* get one here, made by Remo (it's loads better than their djembes, but still far from the real thing, imo).

Concerning the skin, I have heard some very odd things in the past (too long ago to remember clearly), and I think the gent who runs Santoori.com cuts right to the chase. I suspect he gets lots of emails like the one you received.

[michi]

I am a big, big fan of Iranian percussion, and want a daf (Kurdish-style, you can see a couple of the santoori.com site) of my own. I *could* get one here, made by Remo (it's loads better than their djembes, but still far from the real thing, imo).

Venturing an opinion as a world expert on Zarbs ( ), I would suspect that the Remo won't be quite as good as the original item

Concerning the skin, I have heard some very odd things in the past (too long ago to remember clearly), and I think the gent who runs Santoori.com cuts right to the chase. I suspect he gets lots of emails like the one you received.

I bet. Unfortunately, the customer is in Brisbane, and shipping a big (and presumably quite heavy) ceramic drum overseas won't be cheap.

I've offered to take a look to see how the skin is attached. Depending on how that works, I might give it a shot, or politely say "sorry, but that's outside my competence". Unfortunately, I don't know a single person in Australia who works on this type of drum. (I bet there is someone around, but the trick is knowing who that is…)

Cheers,

Michi.

[e2c]

Ceramic?

Then - unless it's one of the huge zarb-type drums that they play at iranian traditional gymnasiums ("House[s] of Strength"), it's likely not a tombak...

As for Remo's small goblet drums, don't get me started!!!

It does seem like most Iranian immigrant communities are either in Western Europe or the US and Canada, but it would be worth asking around to see if there are any musicians in Aus. who would actually know how to reskin one of whatever this prospective customer has. otoh, you need to determine what it actually is first!

[e2c]

michi, I would love to see a pic of whatever this potential customer is talking about, in the event that one can be posted... [hint, hint]

[michi]

Well, the potential customer came back to me and explained that, actually, it is not a drum, but a lute called Tar. I think I could handle fitting a goat skin to one of those

Michi.

[e2c]

Aha -now I get it re. the lamb skin...

Tar shells are delicate, and I wish you the best of luck with it, michi! Please let us know how it works out...

[michi]

Aha -now I get it re. the lamb skin...

Tar shells are delicate, and I wish you the best of luck with it, michi! Please let us know how it works out...

Customer decided to just buy a goat skin off me and do it himself, so I won't find out what it would have been like

Michi.

[e2c]

Probably for the best - though I'm sure it would have been an interesting job for you.

[drtom]

I love this discussion. Excuse me while I barge in.

e2c wrote:

It's likely a tombak, aka zarb.

You can find out more here, for starters: http://nasehpour.tripod.com/peyman/id36.html

and here (a very knowledgeable instrument sales guy who speaks German): http://www.santoori.com/index.html ** Has skins for sale.

I've heard that "skin of an unborn lamb" thing before and am not sure that it's true... afaik, most people use goatskin, but it's definitely worth checking with either or both of the sources I've posted.

I've skinned tombaks, aka zarbs, with goatskin and like the results. My understanding is that camel is also commonly used on these drums. As for 'unborn lamb' skin, I suppose it's possible as long as the skins are large enough(these are NOT small drums).

It's interesting to note that there's a significant market for fetal lamb skin - coats, hats, rugs, etc. Why not drums?

Michi wrote:

Well, the potential customer came back to me and explained that, actually, it is not a drum, but a lute called Tar. I think I could handle fitting a goat skin to one of those

I'm familiar with tars, Michi. If you can skin a tar, you can definitely skin a zarb.

drtom

[michi]

skin of an unborn lamb" thing before and am not sure that it's true...

I suspect that it isn't true. A newborn lamb isn't much larger than an adult cat.

I'm familiar with tars, Michi. If you can skin a tar, you can definitely skin a zarb.

Thanks for the vote of confidence So far, I have skinned neither. But I'm sure that there is nothing to it that a bit of super glue wouldn't fix

Michi.

[e2c]

Camel skins are mentioned on (iirc) both of the sites I linked to.

Tonbaks are not *that* big, at least, not when compared to 18" - 20" frame drums (dafs and the like).

[michi]

Tonbaks are not *that* big, at least, not when compared to 18" - 20" frame drums (dafs and the like).

OK, fair enough, you just might get a small drum skin out of an unborn lamb.

Personally, I think I would prefer to wait until the lamb is born and slaughter it then, rather than insisting on an unborn lamb's skin. Less wear and tear on ewes that way…

Michi.