Maddale
Encyclopedia
The maddale is a percussion instrument
from Karnataka
, India
. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Yakshagana
ensemble along with Chande
. Maddale used in Yakshagana looks similar to Mridangam but is markedly different in structure, acustics, playing techniques and the rhythm system (Yakshagana Tala
). Maddale uses the Yakshagana Tala
system. Traditionall variety of Maddale is shorter and high pitched. Maddale is available in more than three different variations .
and the drum itself is similar to Pakhavaj
. In fact one of the names of Pakhavaj is Mardal which is very similar to the name Maddale (Madala). Unlike Pakhavaj the bass drum head is not bigger and the playing techniques are different. Thus it is likely that Maddale is a variation of Pakhavaj and Mrudangam. Traditionall variety of Maddale was shorter and high pitched. Over the years, the Maddale evolved to be made of different kinds of wood and for lower octave, and today, its body is constructed from wood of the jackfruit
tree among other woods like Kakke, Baine, Hunaalu. Its use has evolved with the development of Yakshagana
and Yakshaganic fingering and hand techniques have been developed. Interesting use of palm produces a sound that is somewhat a mixture of Pakhawaj and Mridangam.
wood about half an inch thick. The two mouths or apertures of the drum are covered with a goat
skin leather
and laced to each other with leather straps around the circumference of drum. These straps are put into a state of high tension to stretch out the circular membranes on either side of the hull, allowing them to resonate when struck. These two membranes (drum heads) are same in width to allow for the production of bass from one and treble sound from the other. The drum head are known as "muchchige".
The bass drum head is known as the "eda muchchige" and the drum head is known as the "bala muchchige". The right drum head is similar to Tabla drum head. When struck, produces higher pitched sounds. The left drum head produces lower pitched bass sounds. The right drum head has a circular disk in the centre called "karne" causing the drum to produce hormonic tones. The left drum is smeared with a paste made from ash and rice called 'bona', before performance to dampen the tone and to produce bass sound.
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
from Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Yakshagana
Yakshagana
Yakshagana is a musical theater popular in the coastal and Malenadu regions of Karnataka, India. Yakshagana is the recent scholastic name for what are known as kēḷike, āṭa, bayalāṭa, bayalāṭa, daśāvatāra . It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during Bhakti movement...
ensemble along with Chande
Chande
The chande is a drum used in the traditional and classical music of South India and particularly in Karnataka. It provides rhythmic accompaniment in several dance dramas of South India such as Yakshagana. It follows the Yakshagana Tala system...
. Maddale used in Yakshagana looks similar to Mridangam but is markedly different in structure, acustics, playing techniques and the rhythm system (Yakshagana Tala
Yakshagana Tala
Yakshagana Tala , is a rhythmical pattern in Yakshagana that is determined by a composition called Yakshagana Padya. Tala also decides how a composition is enacted by dancers. It is similar to Tala in other forms of Indian music, but is structurally different from them...
). Maddale uses the Yakshagana Tala
Yakshagana Tala
Yakshagana Tala , is a rhythmical pattern in Yakshagana that is determined by a composition called Yakshagana Padya. Tala also decides how a composition is enacted by dancers. It is similar to Tala in other forms of Indian music, but is structurally different from them...
system. Traditionall variety of Maddale is shorter and high pitched. Maddale is available in more than three different variations .
History
Maddale belongs to mridangam family of drums and hence shares the history of similar drums. Its drum head is similar to TablaTabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
and the drum itself is similar to Pakhavaj
Pakhavaj
The pakhavaj, pakhawaj, pakuaj, pakhvaj or pakavaj is an Indian barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, the North Indian equivalent to the Southern mridangam....
. In fact one of the names of Pakhavaj is Mardal which is very similar to the name Maddale (Madala). Unlike Pakhavaj the bass drum head is not bigger and the playing techniques are different. Thus it is likely that Maddale is a variation of Pakhavaj and Mrudangam. Traditionall variety of Maddale was shorter and high pitched. Over the years, the Maddale evolved to be made of different kinds of wood and for lower octave, and today, its body is constructed from wood of the jackfruit
Jackfruit
The jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
tree among other woods like Kakke, Baine, Hunaalu. Its use has evolved with the development of Yakshagana
Yakshagana
Yakshagana is a musical theater popular in the coastal and Malenadu regions of Karnataka, India. Yakshagana is the recent scholastic name for what are known as kēḷike, āṭa, bayalāṭa, bayalāṭa, daśāvatāra . It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during Bhakti movement...
and Yakshaganic fingering and hand techniques have been developed. Interesting use of palm produces a sound that is somewhat a mixture of Pakhawaj and Mridangam.
Physical components
The Maddale is a double-sided drum whose body is usually made using a hollowed piece of jackfruitJackfruit
The jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
wood about half an inch thick. The two mouths or apertures of the drum are covered with a goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
skin leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
and laced to each other with leather straps around the circumference of drum. These straps are put into a state of high tension to stretch out the circular membranes on either side of the hull, allowing them to resonate when struck. These two membranes (drum heads) are same in width to allow for the production of bass from one and treble sound from the other. The drum head are known as "muchchige".
The bass drum head is known as the "eda muchchige" and the drum head is known as the "bala muchchige". The right drum head is similar to Tabla drum head. When struck, produces higher pitched sounds. The left drum head produces lower pitched bass sounds. The right drum head has a circular disk in the centre called "karne" causing the drum to produce hormonic tones. The left drum is smeared with a paste made from ash and rice called 'bona', before performance to dampen the tone and to produce bass sound.
Methods of use
Maddale is tuned to the tonic of the Yakshagana singer before performance. A wooden peg is sometimes used to tighten the leather straps.See also
- TablaTablaThe tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
- ThavilThavilThe thavil or tavil is a barrel shaped drum from South India. It is used in temple, folk and Carnatic music, often accompanying the nadaswaram. The thavil and the nadaswaram are essential ingredients of traditional festivals and ceremonies in South India.The thavil consists of a cylindrical shell...
- KaratalasKaratalasKaratalas , pronounced "kartels", are a percussion instrument played by striking two discs attached by a tether together, often used within the traditions of Hinduism to accompany kirtana or sankirtan...
- ChandeChandeThe chande is a drum used in the traditional and classical music of South India and particularly in Karnataka. It provides rhythmic accompaniment in several dance dramas of South India such as Yakshagana. It follows the Yakshagana Tala system...
- Tala-MaddaleTala-MaddaleTala-Maddale is an ancient form of art from coastal and malnad regions of Karnataka and northern Kerala state of India. It is very popular in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shimoga districts of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala...
- Mridanga