Trống chầu

A trống đế or trống chầu is a traditional Vietnamese musical instrument also known as "praise drums". It is a small double-headed drum, beaten with a long wooden stick on the top side, causing a loud snapping sound.^[1]

Description

The two sides of the trống chầu where they are beaten, are made with buffalo hide. The main portion of the drum is carved from jack fruit wood^[2]

Uses

The drummer is typically a well-recognized member of the audience and beats rhythms at the beginning and end of a performance, to mark singing phrases, and as means of appreciation for a performance.^[3] It is the largest of the set of drums used in ca trù- the Vietnamese traditional chamber music.^[4] Performers also use it in a chèo or hát văn.

References

1. Schippers, Huib; Grant, Catherine (2016-11-01). Sustainable Futures for Music Cultures: An Ecological Perspective. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190259075.
2. "Civilization.ca - Resonance - Making music". www.historymuseum.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
3. "World heritage in Vietnam". vietnamtourism.com. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
4. Terry E. Miller, Sean Williams The Garland handbook of Southeast Asian music 2008 - Page 275 "There is also a set of drums played by different drummers. The largest one (trống chầu) is played by an expert, representing the audience."