Tonbak
Description
Tonbak (also written tombak, donbak, dombak; and also known as Zarb) is a goblet shaped drum made of wood and covered with lamb or goat skin. It is the chief percussion instrument of Persian art music. The technique of play utilizes much finger articulation, and snapping sounds, which are typical of the sound of the instrument. The syllables of its name imitate the two prominent sounds of the drum: tom – a deeper sound produced in the middle of the drum head, and bak – a higher sound produced by striking nearer the rim. It is related to other goblet drums of the Middle Eastern world, especially the Darabuka (also known as Dumbek) of the Arabic musical tradition.
