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DAMMAM

The Dammam ( Arabic الدمام, DMG al-dammām) is a large double-headed cylinder drum or frame drum played by Shias in Iraq and Iran in religious ceremonies. The dammām is usually struck with the left hand and a curved stick in the right hand, especially during passion plays in the mourning month of Muharram or to wake up the devotees early in the morning of Ramadan.

Dammam is an instrument of the family of two-sided membranophones. It consists of a cylinder of wood or metal covered by leather on both sides in a particular way. The skins are joined to the body by rings (in each side there are two) and a series of ropes.

With the wooden stick the right side of the dammam is played and with the hand the left. It is used in three sizes and with three functions with the names dammam semplice, dammam-e ghambar and dammām-e ashkun.

The use of playing dammam is widespread mostly in Bushehr and in Khuzestan. A Bushehr usually accompanies the mourning ceremonies of the month of Moharram and the group of musicians has the task of announcing the beginning of the funeral rite during the months of Moharram, Safar and sometimes of the Ramadan.

Popular belief has it that the number of dammas that are played in this ceremony must be odd, usually between 7 and 11 or sometimes more. The dammām accompany the dishes and the horn.

The result of the performance of the dammām players group is polyphonic music.