Dayereh

A dayereh (or doyra, dojra, dajre, doira, dajreja) is a medium-sized frame drum with jingles, used to accompany both popular and classical music in Iran (Persia), Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, the Balkans, and many Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Frame drums are also popular in many regions of Georgia, like Kartli, Kakheti, Tusheti, Samegrelo, Racha, and Imereti. This is a single headed percussion instrument which is not only found in Northern South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, but also in parts of the Russian polar regions. The simple drum is formed by attaching a skin cover onto a wooden ring with glue and cloth ties. This is similar to the Persian daira and the Turkish def. Some daira have metal pieces attached to give them a tambourine-like quality.

History

The history of dayereh goes back to many centuries. An engraved bronze cup from Lorestān at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, portrays a double ney (end-blown reed pipes), chang (harp), and dayereh in a shrine or court processional, as similarly documented in Egypt, Elam, and the Persian province of Babylonia where music was arranged for performance by large orchestral ensembles.