You might have heard an eastern musician hitting a circle drum, creating tons of magical sounds with a quick tempo, and wondered what that mystical instrument is. Well, that is the beauty of the riq drum, which we will get into in detail introducing it today.
The Riq (also Rik, Reqq, Riqq, or Def) has been one of the most important instruments in the Middle-Eastern world. This frame drum is almost as small as a plate, but its role in Arabic and Turkish music is enormous due to its rich tones, diverse sound colors, and advanced playing techniques.
With its versatile playing styles and rich tonal range, the Riq can replace a whole percussion orchestra in the hands of a master. But what is the riq instrument exactly, how is it played? Let’s take a closer look.
What is the riq instrument?
The riq drum is the tambourine played mainly in Arabic countries and Turkey. It is a frame drum with a 9” diameter along with 5 double jingle pairs in the frame. The riq percussion instrument plays a significant role in Arabic and Turkish music as well as some European music these days.
The traditional riq drums have a wooden frame and a fish or goat skinhead. As Middle-Eastern people love the decorations, the riq instruments are often decorated with mosaics or pearls along with complex inlay artwork. I guess you wouldn’t expect otherwise!
Although it can be played as a solo percussion instrument as it is quite versatile, it is often played with the accompaniment of other instruments, especially darbuka, the middle eastern hand drum.
How to play the Riq Drum?
This is where things get interesting. The riq percussion instrument requires elaborate finger techniques to be played masterfully. This is how it can replace a whole orchestra with an impressive range of tones and sounds it can create.
To play this historically-rich Arabic instrument, you should hold it vertically with the drum skin facing away from your body and both hands positioned on the lower side of the drum. There should be a bell between the hands, and you should use your thumb to hold the drum and the other fingers to play.
To create the magical sounds of the Riq, you can hit the drum skin with your fingers, move the drum rhythmically or shake it continuously. This way, you can activate the bells on the sides while keeping the rhythmic groove with your fingers hitting the skin.
If you do not want bell-action, you can play the Riq on your lap, or a bit tilted to the side. This way, you can silence the bells.
There are so many techniques to create tremendously rich sounds from the Riq. Here you can check some of them out and get an idea of why this instrument can replace a whole orchestra.
Riq Instrument Facts and History
Riqs are ancient instruments, as in excavations, archaeologists found many figures holding riqs in their hands, especially around the Mesopotamia area. Sumerians were one of the first civilizations to use riqs in ceremonies.
Later, the drum was used in different types of music, especially folk music, in Mesopotamia, Greece, and Egypt. Riqs are also used in the mystical music of Sufi called “mazhar,” where the people dance to the rhythmic religious music in a trance. These riqs are often larger and do not feature zils which are the bells.
In the 13th century, riqs were introduced to European civilizations by the crusaders. Mainly it was used by women to accompany their dances. Europeans called the instrument “tambour” and “basque.” Later in the 18th century, the riq drum became more popular with the influence of the Ottomans and started taking a role in European orchestras.
Types Of Riqs
As you know, ancient instruments always have tons of variations today. Well, riqs are no different.
Turkey – Tef
Tef or Def is the modern Riq with a light frame and 5 sets of cymbals. It is a very common instrument in Turkey. Almost every house has one for necessary occasions like celebrations. Also, it is commonly used in concerts as a part of an ensemble or as a rhythm accompaniment in the hands of a singer.
Syria — The Daf and Mazhar
The Daf is a common large riq drum type, and Mazhar is a medium-large frame drum without jingles on the sides. It is the most mystical variation of the riq family, as it is often used in Sufi ceremonies, where people get in a trance with basic yet striking rhythms.
Egypt – The Riq
Well, the original Riq that we were talking about is mainly used in Egypt. No need to go into detail again and get you bored.
India – The Dafli
Well, as you may know, India is the land of percussion with tons of different drums. One of them is the dafli, which is the riq-like large frame drum played with fingers. It is mainly used in Indian folk music.
Italy – The Tamburello
The Italian tambourine inspired by the eastern Riq drum is still used today in folk music.
Spain – Tambour de Basque
Another tambourine version can be found in Spain thanks to the early middle age influence from Andalucia. It is called the Basque drum or Tambour de Basque and is a riq-like frame drum with different amounts of jingles on the sides.
Famous Riq Players
Besides its traditional use in hennas and weddings in rural areas of the Middle East, riqs are becoming more famous in modern music. To give different colors to their music, many musicians use them as accompaniment. The riq player is often the leader and soloist of the Middle Eastern percussion ensembles.
Today, some famous riq players are Zohar Fresco, David Kuckhermann, Glen Valez, and Mehmet Akatay, who are appreciated for their modern way of Riq playing with complex fingers and jingle rolls, different playing positions, rhythmic combinations, and masterful dynamics.
https://youtu.be/ZGrdP51fhqw