The Tsuzumi is a percussion instrument which is traditionally passed down through the generations based on the belief that the older it is, the better it sounds.
Heirloom Tsuzumi produce beautiful tones, as the vibrations of the ancestors are said to harmonize and enhance the players' technique.
Even though Tsuzumi originated over 300 years ago, it is still used in music today. In fact, the Tsuzumi is regarded much like the "Stradivarius" is to the violin.
The Tsuzumi is mainly played with other traditional Japanese music instruments such as Japanese flutes and Shamisen; a three-stringed, guitar-like instrument. These instruments are an integral part of Noh and Kabuki plays and traditional Japanese dance, and the musicians share the stage with the actors.
TheTsuzumi is often also the accompaniment for interjected chants, such as"Eyo"
The Tsuzumi is a small drum shaped like an hourglass. The two heads are made of horse skin and the wooden body is shaped from the cherry tree. The heads are fixed to the body by ropes made of hemp.
The body is lacquered in black and decorated with intricate gold and silver lacquer work. The pictures and designs painted on the body are often praised as fine works of art and therefore attract art collectors.
The Tsuzumi is held over the right shoulder of the musician. The left hand is used to support the instrument while the right hand strikes the drum head.
When the musician strikes the head, the sound resounds in the hollow part of the body and then reverberates into space. The pitches and tones are tuned by tightening and loosening the tensions of the hemp rope controlled by the left hand. The variety of the sounds are dependent upon the place of the head that is struck, along with the dynamics of the force and technique.
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