Cylindrical Drum (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

This single-headed membranophone represents the widespread tradition of cylindrical drums found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its precise ethnic and regional provenance is unknown. The membrane is attached directly to the upper rim with wooden nails, a construction known in organological terminology as nailed membrane attachment or nail tension (Nagelspannung).

The wooden nails secure the membrane firmly to the drum body and form the structural tensioning system. The pitch can nevertheless be adjusted before or during performance by warming the membrane over a fire. Heat causes the skin to contract, increasing its tension and consequently raising the pitch. This method of tuning is documented for Central African drums.

Nailed drums constitute an important group within the organology of the Congo. Olga Boone's fundamental study classified Congolese drums according to their construction, membrane attachment and regional forms; J.-N. Maquet subsequently discussed these systems in his study of Congolese musical instruments.

Bibliography

Boone, Olga (1951): Les tambours du Congo belge et du Ruanda-Urundi. 2 vols. Tervuren: Musée du Congo belge.br>
Maquet, J.-N. (1957): Note sur les instruments de musique congolais. Bruxelles: Académie Royale des Sciences Coloniales.

Sachs, Curt (1913): Real-Lexikon der Musikinstrumente: zugleich ein Polyglossar für das gesamte Instrumentengebiet. Berlin: Julius Bard.