Photos

The final image in my series. The music in a performance is for me one of the most important elements as it sets the tone and scene for the play. In the Kathakali dance there are several imstruments played. The chenda drum, maddalam drum, cymbals and shruti box accompanied by some singing.
A sruti box is a small wooden instrument that traditionally works on a system of bellows. It is similar to a harmonium and is used to provide a drone in a practice session or concert of Indian classical music. -wikipedia
Chenda is a cylindrical wooden drum which is two feet in length and about a foot in diameter. The drum is made of wood of the jackfruit tree to produce the unique, deep sound. Both sides of the Chenda are covered with leather. Although the Chenda has two faces, only one surface of it is usually played on. The artist suspends the Chenda from the neck and plays on it using specially made curved sticks. The Chenda can produce very loud sound as well as soft sounds at the hands of a skilled artist. The chenda is an important accompaniment in Kathakali performances and the Melam performances that feature an ensemble of several dozen Chendas that are unique to Kerala temple festivals.
Maddalam is a barrel shaped drum made of wood of the jackfruit tree. It is worn around the waist of the performer horizontally and is played in standing position with both hands. The drumheads are made of thick layers of leather. The left side of the maddalam produces resonating notes and the right side produces notes that are more suitable for keeping the rhythm. The skin on the left side is covered with a layer of black paste before playing.
Maddalam, Thimila and Edaykka are integral parts of the Panchavadyam drum ensemble. The Maddalam is also used as an accompaniment for Kathakali performances.