Pronounced ("mur-dung-ughm"), is a two-headed, double conical-shaped drum
of the South Indian Karnatak classical music tradition. Played with the hands,
palms and fingers, this drum is tuned with a hammer on one side, while the other
side is tuned with a gob of cream of wheat or maya stuck in the center of the
drum to achieve the desired pitch. The gob end of the drum is played by the left
hand and acts as the bass drum, and is capable of many tones, which can be varied
by degrees of pressure from the base of the left palm. Talams are the rhythmic
cycles found in South Indian music. There is a unique intricacy and rhythmic sophistication
in South Indian music. Syllables are recited and each note sung has a related
and exact position on the drum, hence, what you say is what you play! There are
talams ranging from three-beat cycles to 108 beat cycles.
The WORLD BEATS video features live,
costumed performances of ancient, ethnic, percussive traditions. Aaron Plunkett
puts it all together in this fascinating 33 minute program. SEE
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