Скачать или смотреть பறை இசை (Ancient TAMIL Civilization Musical instrument Parai 1)

பறை ஒரு தமிழிசைக் கருவியாகும். இது தோலால் ஆன மேளமாகும். 'பறை' என்ற சொல் பேச்சைக் குறிப்பதாகும். 'பேசு' எனப்பொருள்படும் 'அறை' என்ற சொல்லினின்று 'பறை' தோன்றியது. (நன்னூல் : 458). பேசுவதை இசைக்கவல்ல தாளக் கருவி 'பறை' எனப்பட்டது. பன்னெடுங்கால வரலாற்றைத் தன்னகத்தே கொண்டுள்ள பறை, ஓர் இசைக் கருவி மட்டுமல்ல தொல்குடித் தமிழ்ச் சமூகத்தின் சொத்து. தோலிசைக் கருவிகளின் தாய். தமிழினத்தின் தொன்மையான அடையாளம். உழைக்கும் மக்களின் இசைக் களஞ்சியம். தமிழர் வாழ்வியலின் முகம் என வருணிக்கப்படுகிறது."பறை என்பது ஓடும் இசையை ஒழுங்கு பெற நிறுத்தி ஓர் அளவோடு சீரோடு, ஒத்த அழகோடு நடக்க, இசைக்கு நடை கற்பிக்கும் கருவி' என முனைவர் வளர்மதி தன்னுடைய "பறை' ஆய்வு நூலில் விளக்குகிறார்
Physical Description

The parai is a frame drum about 35 centimeters in diameter. It consists of a shallow ring of wood, covered on one side with a stretched cow hide that is glued to the wooden frame. The preferred wood is neem wood although other types may be used. The shell is made up of three separate pieces of wood each in the shape of an arc. These pieces are held together by three metal plates. The parai is played with two sticks: one long and thin flat bamboo stick (approx. 28 cm) and one short and thick stick that can be made from any variety of wood (approx. 18 cm).

Technique

The parai is slung by a strap on the left shoulder and is held vertically against the left side of the performer's body. This simple harness allows the drummer to play while standing, walking, or dancing. The parai is played entirely with sticks. There are three fundamental strokes from which all of the rhythmic patterns derive: striking the center of the drum with the shorter stick held in the dominant hand, "slapping" the center of the drum with the long stick held in the off hand, and striking the drum with both sticks, the dominant immediately followed by the off (similar to a flam in western snare drum technique). The short stick is loosely held between the thumb and three other fingers: index, middle, and ring. It is held vertically upright, positioned near the lower rim of the drum. The off hand which holds the long stick rests on the upper part of the frame. This stick is positioned at a angle pointed downward. The base of the stick is gripped by the thumb and index fingers and balanced between the middle and ring fingers. Prior to every performance, parai drummers will heat their instruments, holding them extremely close to a small bonfire. The heat from the fire absorbs the moisture in the drum heads tightening them considerably. After heating, the drums produce a high pitched loud cracking sound when struck.

History

In Tamil, the word 'parai' means to 'speak' or to 'tell'. Local histories describe the parai as an ancient instrument performed in the courts of Sangam, Chola, and Pandiyan rulers. The drums were used to announce important messages and orders of the great Tamil Kings. Today the parai folk drum is associated with Dalit communities (formerly known as untouchables). Dalits are the lowest ranking members of the Hindu social order, outside the four classes of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. The two best-known Dalit drumming castes are the Paraiyars (named after the parai drum) and the Telugu speaking Cakkiliyars. The former refers to this drum as a parai, the latter as a 'thappu'. In addition to performing music at their own temple festivals and religious celebrations, Dalits for the last several centuries have provided inauspicious ritual services for higher castes, most notable drumming for funerals. Because of its association with death, Dalit drummers and the parai drum are considered both impure and degraded by upper castes. In recent years, some Dalit communities have reclaimed the parai with pride to become a symbol of Dalit cultural identity and social freedom.