Music Port - non-profit organization of independent Israeli musicians aimed to promote mobility & promotion of Israeli musicians abroad
[ Ссылка ]

~~ ZOHAR FRESCO - Music Port presentation ~~
[ Ссылка ]
[ Ссылка ]


Directed by Hely Dangur
​Filmed & Edited by Eastside studio
​Content editor - Talya G.A Solan
PR and marketing manager - Danielle Bronstein​

מיוזיק פורט - ת.ז זהר פרסקו
בימוי: חלי דן גור
עריכה וצילום:Eastside studio
עריכת תוכן: טליה ג. סולאן
יח״צ ושיווק: דניאל ברונשטיין

__________________________________________________________

In ancient Jewish-Israeli culture, the frame drum is called “tof miriam”. The phonetic resemblance between the words “daf” and “tof” (Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew) is additional ancient evidence of the roots of the Jewish-Israeli culture in the region of the Middle East.

The name “Miriam” that accompanies the drum refers to Miriam the prophet, the biblical figure, the daughter of Amram and Yocheved, sister of Aaron and Moses of the Levi tribe, the tribe that differed from the rest of the tribes of Israel in its purpose of worshipping at the Holy Temple with singing and playing instruments.

Miriam, who was one of the seven female prophets of the people of Israel, led the culture of drum playing in Jewish-Israeli tradition during biblical times.

“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances” Exodus 15:20

Testimonies from the bible and archeological findings of figurines in the Land of Israel reveal that the biblical Miriam drum was an overhead drum between 12 to 14 inches in size. Its initial and simple shape was a wooden frame (in most cases) with leather stretched on its front side. It appears that the drum was without any cymbals or other additions.

The culture of playing the Miriam drum also took place in religious and spiritual rituals, as well as in special events such as weddings, the first of the month, and welcoming and bidding farewell to the Sabbath. This culture vanished almost completely from the Jewish culture since the destruction of the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD by the Roman emperor Titus Flavius. Following the destruction of the Holy Temple, Jews were forbidden from rejoicing and playing melodies in synagogues and in religious spiritual events. They are commanded to remain in mourning until the rebuilding of the Holy Temple.

Since then, the presence of the Miriam drum in Israeli culture is minor. It serves mostly as an aide among school and kindergarten teachers to communicate with the children: calling, gathering, or dismissing them, as well as during group singing and playing as part of educational activities, social games, etc.
The Miriam drum is not perceived as a significant musical instrument and was not integrated into serious and artistic musical work in Israeli-Jewish culture.

свернуть