Mridanga - mdaga (English spelling)

A double-sided barrel-shaped drum from South India. In Tamil, it is called Mridangam. It is used to accompany large male singers, with a total length of about 60 cm, a circumference of about 90 cm at the thickest part of the body, and a diameter of about 20 cm for the small membrane and about 24 cm for the large membrane. Both membranes are made of three layers of buffalo and sheep skins, and are fastened to the body with leather strings. The small membrane has a circle cut out from the center of only the outer skin, and black paste such as manganese powder is applied to it. The large membrane has two outer skins cut into a circle, and just before playing, paste made from rice flour is applied to it and it is tuned one octave below the small membrane. The player produces more than a dozen different types of percussion sounds using his fingers and palms. It is the main percussion instrument in South Indian classical music, and is used for improvised accompaniment to vocal music and other music, as well as for improvised solos. Currently, there are two major schools of classical music in Chennai (Madras), Tanjore and Pudukottai, and Palgat Raghu, U.K. Sivaraman, and Trichi Shankaram are said to be the three leading players. In North India, the drum used for vocal music Dhrupad is sometimes called Pakhawaj.

[Noriko Shibata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

南インドの両面樽(たる)型太鼓。タミル語ではムリダンガムという。大型の男性歌手伴奏用で、全長約60センチメートル、胴の太い部分の周囲約90センチメートル、直径は小膜面約20センチメートル、大膜面約24センチメートル。膜面はともに水牛と羊の皮を組み合せ3枚重ねにし、革紐(ひも)で胴に締める。小膜面は外側の皮のみ中央を円状に切り取り、そこにマンガン粉などの黒色ペーストをつける。大膜面は外側皮2枚を円状に切り取り、演奏直前に米粉からつくるペーストをつけて小膜面の1オクターブ下に調律する。奏者は指や手のひらを使って十数種の打音を生み出す。南インド古典音楽の主要打楽器として、声楽などの即興伴奏や即興ソロを行う。現在、古典音楽の中心地チェンナイ（マドラス）にはタンジョールとプドゥコタイの二大流派があり、パルガット・ラグー、U・K・シバラーマン、トゥリチー・シャンカラムが三大奏者といわれている。なお、北インドでも声楽ドゥルパッドに用いる太鼓パッカワージをこの名でよぶことがある。

［柴田典子］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例