TeresitaPennell at 16:04, 25 April 2026

2026-04-25T16:04:06Z

New page

{{Short description|Frame drum originating in Central Asia and the Middle East}}
{{Other uses|DAF (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Riq|other uses|RIQ (disambiguation){{!}}RIQ}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox Instrument
| name = Daf
| names = ''Dafli'', ''dap'', ''def'', ''tef'', ''defi'', ''gaval'', ''duf'', ''duff'', ''dof''
| image = Pair of dafs.jpg
| background = Percussion
| classification = [[Directly struck membranophones]]
| range = High sound of jingles, plus some have a skin with a lower sound
| hornbostel_sachs = 211.311
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = Handle-less [[frame drum]] with one usable membrane
| related = Buben, [[tambourine]], [[kanjira]], [[frame drum]], [[parai]]
}}

The '''''daf''''' ({{langx|fa|[[wikt:دف|دف]]}}), also known as '''''dap''''' ([[wikt:دپ|دپ]]), '''''dâyere''''' or '''''riq''''', is an [[Persians|Iranian]] [[frame drum]] musical instrument, also used in popular and classical music in Persian-influenced [[Southeast Asia|South]] and [[Central Asia]], such as in [[Afghanistan]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Iran]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Turkey]] many regions of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Armenia]], [[Pakistan]] as well as in parts of [[India]]<ref name="InEx">{{cite web |last=Sahani |first=Alaka |date=11 February 2020 |title=Who is afraid of the dafli? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dafli-indian-folk-popular-culture-caa-protest-citizenship-amendment-act-6261295 |publisher=Indian Express |accessdate=20 November 2021}}</ref> and [[Russia|Russian]] [[Polar regions of Earth|polar regions]]. It is also popular among [[Balkan people|Balkans]], [[Ethnic groups in the Caucasus|Caucasians]], [[Bukharan Jews]], [[Kurds]], and [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Tony Langlois|title=Non-Western Popular Music|date=2017|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1351556156|page=91}}</ref>

The daf is the [[National symbols of Pakistan|national musical instrument]] of [[Pakistan]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahmed |first=Shaheen |date=August 31, 2021 |title=THE MAGICAL INSTRUMENT |work=The Victor Magazine |url=https://www.victormagazine.net/the-magical-instrument/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mirza |first=Afshan |year=2021 |title=National Musical Instrument of Pakistan and Provincial instruments |url=https://popularinpakistan.com/national-musical-instrument-of-pakistan/#more-92 |website=Popular in Pakistan |access-date=2022-05-08 |archive-date=2022-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226165642/https://popularinpakistan.com/national-musical-instrument-of-pakistan/#more-92 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is also depicted on the [[Obverse and reverse|reverse]] and [[Obverse and reverse|obverse]] of the Azerbaijani 1 [[Azerbaijani manat|qəpik]] coin and 1 [[Azerbaijani manat|manat]] banknote respectively, since 2006.<ref>[http://www.cbar.az Central Bank of Azerbaijan]. National currency: [http://www.cbar.az/pages/national-currency/coins/new-generation-coins/ New generation coins]. – Retrieved on 25 February 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.nba.az/default.aspx National Bank of Azerbaijan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516034336/http://nba.az/default.aspx |date=2007-05-16 }}. National currency: [http://www.nba.az/default.aspx?go=178&lng=en 1 manat]{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. – Retrieved on 25 March 2009. (Old site -now a dead link- that mentioned the instrument as a ''daf'').<br />[http://www.cbar.az Central Bank of Azerbaijan]. National currency: [http://www.cbar.az/pages/national-currency/banknotes/azn/ 1 manat]. – Retrieved on 25 February 2010. (Current site that mentions the instrument as a ''drum'').</ref>

It traditionally has a round wooden frame (although in the modern era it may also be made of metal), jingles, and a thin, translucent head made of fish- or goat-skin (or, more recently, a synthetic material).

The sound is produced by hitting the membrane with either hand – the left hand, which also holds the daf, strikes the edges, and the right hand strikes the center. The right-hand fingers are fastened about their neighbours and suddenly released, like the action of finger-snapping, to produce loud, rapid, sharp sounds.<ref name="Birseyogren">{{Cite web |title=''Dayereh'' |url=http://www.birseyogren.com/hakkinda/dayereh/ |access-date=20 April 2021 |website=Birseyogren.com}}</ref>

==History ==
[[File:Daf-isfahan.jpg|thumb|200px|Daf in a [[miniature (illuminated manuscript)|miniature]], [[Isfahan]], Iran]]
The [[Zoroastrian Middle Persian|Pahlavi]] (Middle Persian) name of the ''daf'' is ''dap'' ([[wikt:دپ|دپ]]); the frame drum used in traditional [[Uyghur people|Uyghur]] music has the similar name ''dāp'' ([[wikt:داپ|داپ]]).<ref name="Kariagdiev">{{Cite web|date=28 May 2008|title=Ghaval:Drumdojo:By Drummers For Drummers|url=http://www.drumdojo.com/ghaval.htm|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528023203/http://www.drumdojo.com/ghaval.htm|archive-date=2008-05-28}}</ref>

Some pictures of daf have been found in paintings that date before the [[Common Era]]. The presence of the Iranian daf in the 6th–5th century BCE [[Behistun Inscription]] suggests that it existed before the [[Spread of Islam|rise of Islam]] and [[Sufism]].

Iranian music has always been a spiritual tool.

It shows that daf played an important role in [[Zoroastrianism|Mazdean]] Iran emerging as an important element during the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanian]] period, during the [[Sasanian Empire|Kâvusakân]] dynasty.

Also, there is a kind of square frame drum in the stonecutting of [[Taq-e Bostan]] (another famous monument located 5km northeast of [[Kermanshah]] city). These frame drums were played in the ancient [[Middle East]], [[Greece]], and [[Roman Empire|Rome]] and reached [[Islamic world contributions to Medieval Europe|medieval Europe through Islamic culture]].

[[File:C+B-Music-Fig24-AssyrianQuartet.PNG|thumb|200px|left|Daf depicted in middle Assyrian empire relief 1392 BC–934 BC]]
[[Nowruz]] (the first day of the Iranian New Year and the national festival of [[Iranian peoples|the Iranian people]]) and other festive occasions have been accompanied by daf in the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid]] periods (224 AD–651 AD). In this period, the daf was played in order to accompany Iranian classical music.

Dafs were likely used in the court to be played in the [[Mode (music)|modes]] and [[Melody|melodies]] of traditional music. This traditional or classical music was created by [[Barbad|Barbod the Great]] and was named the ''khosravani'' after the mythical king [[Khosrow II]].

Recent research reveals that these modes were used in the recitation of Mazdean ([[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]]) prayers. The modes were passed down from master to student and are today known as the ''[[Radif (music)|radif]]'' and ''[[dastgāh]]'' system.

Many of the melodies were lost, but most of those that remain date to the Sassanid period. Dafs can be played to produce highly complex and intense rhythms, causing one to go under a trance and reach an ecstatic and spiritually-high state. For this reason, they have always been connected with religion in Iran.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

[[File:Aleppomusic.jpg|thumb|200px|Musicians in [[Aleppo]], Syria; the Musician on the far left use the daf.]]
An engraved bronze cup from [[Lorestan province|Lorestan]] at the [[National Museum of Iran]] in [[Tehran]], portrays a double [[ney]] (end-blown [[Reed pipe|reed pipes]]), [[chang (instrument)|chang]] (harp), and a daf in a [[shrine]] or court processional, as similarly documented in [[Egypt]], [[Elam]], and the Persian province of [[Babylonia]], where music was arranged for performance by large orchestral ensembles.<ref name="Kariagdiev" />

The [[Arabs]] introduced the daf and other Middle Eastern musical instruments to [[Spain]], and the Spanish adapted and promoted the daf and other musical instruments (such as the [[guitar]]) in [[Middle Ages|medieval Europe]]. In the 15th century, the daf was only used in [[Sufism|Sufi]] ceremonies; the [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]] reintroduced it to [[Europe]] in the 17th century.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

The daf still functions as an important part of [[Music of Iran|Iranian music]] (both traditional and classical) as it did in [[Ancient history|ancient times]]. It successfully encourages many young [[Iranian peoples|Iranians]] to take up learning this ancient instrument.

Daf, and its smaller version called ''dafli'', is also used across India.<ref name=InEx/> It is believed to have arrived along with other Persian influences in the [[Medieval India|medieval era]], and is a popular [[List of Indian musical instruments|folk instrument]]. In [[South India|southern India]], its use became mainstream, especially in protests, during the early half of the 20th century.<ref name=TOI>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/why-the-dafli-packs-a-big-protest-punch/articleshow/54269783.cms|title=Why the dafli packs a big protest punch|publisher=Times of India|last=Nair|first=Malini|date=11 September 2016|access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref> Since the 1950s, it has also been used prominently in [[Hindi cinema|Bollywood]].<ref name=TOI/>

=== In Islam ===
In [[Islam]], the daf holds special importance in conservative Sunni communities as it is the only musical instrument [[Islam and music|whose use is permitted]], specifically by women during celebrations and men in battle.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hewer |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGWmDwAAQBAJ |title=Understanding Islam: The First Ten Steps |publisher=SCM Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0334052333 |quote=The vast majority of Muslims hold all forms of music to be forbidden, others permit certain forms of unaccompanied singing, while others will permit the use of daff or drum like a tambourine (without the cymbals). In some Sufi and Shia circles music is permitted.}}</ref>

It also holds special importance in [[Sufi music|Islamic Sufi music]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zuhur |first=Sherifa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_m9WEAAAQBAJ |title=Popular Dance and Music in Modern Egypt |publisher=McFarland |year=2021 |isbn=978-1476681993 |location=Berkeley, California |pages=200 |quote=Daff ... It has been important to Sufi music.}}</ref>

==Structure and construction==
The jingles, which are thin metal plates or rings, are attached to hooks in three or four rectangular holes in the circular wooden frame.

The [[drumhead]] is made of fish or goat skin. The width of the frame is {{convert|45|–|50|cm}} and the depth, {{convert|5|–|7|cm|0}}. In order to bend the frame, the wood ("buka", "orev") may be softened in water before being bent around a hot metal cylinder. The frame is closed by gluing the ends together. Finally, the skin is attached to the frame by fixing it with another wooden frame or by using nails.

Another variation is to have the ring-style jingles arranged around the edge of the inside of the drum the whole way around<ref name="Kariagdiev" /> or to have several tiers half way around the inside edge.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rhythmweb.com/frame/ |title=semi-ringed frame drum |access-date=2008-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513230157/http://www.rhythmweb.com/frame/ |archive-date=2008-05-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Notable performers ==

* [[Ulfatmo Mamadambarova]], singer and musician

[[Image: 13981226000162637199477905949705 «دف نوازی» در كردستان.jpg |thumb|200px|[[Kurds in Iran|Iranian Kurds]] from [[Sanandaj]], Iran]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Music}}
* [[Tar (drum)]]
* [[Bodhrán]]
* [[Bendir]]
* [[Mazhar]]
* [[Davul]]
* ''[[Innaby]]'' – Azerbaijani dance

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url=https://www.nasehpour.com/daf-iranian-frame-drum |title=On Persian Daf, the Spiritual Frame Drum and Sufi Music
|last=Nasehpour |first=Peyman |website=Nasehpour.com |year=2015 |publisher=Peyman Nasehpour}}

* {{Commons category-inline|Dafs}}

{{Iranian musical instruments}}
{{Frame drums}}
{{Percussion}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hand drums]]
[[Category:Medicine drums]]
[[Category:Armenian musical instruments]]
[[Category:Asian percussion instruments]]
[[Category:Sufi music]]
[[Category:Persian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Kurdish musical instruments]]
[[Category:Persian musical instruments]]
[[Category:Iranian inventions]]
[[Category:Pakistani musical instruments]]
[[Category:Indian musical instruments]]
[[Category:Yemeni musical instruments]]

Daf - Revision history

TeresitaPennell at 16:04, 25 April 2026