How to Play the Cymbals (Coptic Orthodox Rites)

"Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!" (Psalms 150:5-‬6 NKJV)

This video includes a tutorial on how to play the cymbals or "daff" (Arabic transliteration) in the Rite of the Coptic Orthodox Hymnology. This tutorial is presented by the Church of St. Mary & St. George in Albany, NY and its instructor is the deacon Dr. Matthew Habib.

Often called "pleasant-sounding cymbals" or the "cymbals of Joy", this musical instrument has been used for thousands of years in the Coptic Orthodox Rite in order to maintain the harmony and unity of our Ancient Hymnology and prayers. The cymbals are ubiquitous amongst the Coptic Christian Churches as they are found accompanying the prayers and services of our universal and Apostolic Church. The purpose of this instrument is to encourage harmony and unity amongst the Christians as they pray the well-preserved and theologically-profound hymns of the Coptic Orthodox tradition. May God bless us all and unite our voices to praise Him in one accord, as did the Apostles, by the help of "pleasant-sounding Cymbals" and the "cymbals of Joy"!

Special thanks to producer Michael Rophael of the Church of St. Mary & St. George in Albany, NY and may God bless and reward all those who labored for the sake of this blessed endeavor. May the Church of God be always filled with the sound of thanksgiving, praise, and the “cymbals of Joy.” World without end. Amen.

"Then Miriam the Prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with praises." - First Canticle/Hoos (Coptic Orthodox Midnight Praises)