Traditional Music instruments - Sri lanka

Sri Lankan Country Music

The art, music and dances of Sri Lanka were derived from ritualistic responses to natural phenomenon. Sri Lanka's earliest folk music was later influenced by the influx of Buddhist traditions. These songs were performed by commoners, and not merely recited by the priestly castes.

Sri Lanka's traditional musical instruments

The classical Sinhalese Orchestra consists of five categories of instruments. The drum is the king of local percussions instruments and without it, there will be no dance.^[9] The vibrant beat of the rhythm of the drums form the basic of the dance. The dances feet bounce off the floor and they leap and swirl in patterns that reflex the complex rhythms of the drum beat.

This drum beat may seem simple on the first hearing but it takes a long time to master the intricate rhythms and variations, which the drummer sometimes can bring to a crescendo of intensity.

Gatabera

The typical Sinhala Dance is identified as the Kandyan dance and the Gatabera is indispensable to this dance. It is a long, double-headed drum with a bulge in the middle, worn around the player's waist. 

Yak-bera

The Yak-bera is also known as "the demon drum," or the drum used in low country dance, in which the dancers wear masks and perform devil dancing, which has become a highly developed form of art. This is a double-headed drum with a cylinderic wooden frame. 

Dawula

The Dawula is a barrel shaped drum indigenous to the Sabaragamuwa dance style. It is used as an accompanying drum in the past in order to keep strict time with the beat. 

Thammattama

The Thammattama is a flat, two faced drum.^[10] The drummer strikes the drum on the two surfaces on top with sticks, unlike the other traditional Sri Lankan drums, which are played by striking the sides of the instrument.^[10] In the Hewisi Ensemble, this may be a companion drum to the aforementioned Dawula. 

Udekki

A small double headed, hourglass shape hand drum used to accompany songs.^{[citation needed]} It is mostly heard in the poetry dances (vannam).^{[citation needed]}

 

 

 

 

Rabana

The Rabana^{[citation needed]} The largest of which has to be placed on the floor in order to be played - which is usually done by several people (normally the womenfolk) who sit around the instrument and beat it with both hands.^{[citation needed]} This is used in festivals such as the Sinhalese New Year and ceremonies such as weddings.^{[citation needed]} The resounding beat of the Rabana symbolizes the joyous moods of the occasion.^{[citation needed]}

The small Rabana is a form of mobile drum beat - carried by the performer to produce accompanying drum rhythms for the pieces being performed.^{[citation needed]}

 

 

 

 

 

 Thalampata

The Thalampata are the metal percussion instruments that are almost always made up of cymbals and two small cymbals joined together by a string.^{[citation needed]}

 

 

 

 

 

Horanawa

The Horanawa is an oboe-like instrument that is played during traditional ceremonies in Buddhist temples to accompany the percussive instruments and dance.^{[citation needed]}