Urumee: India musical instrument

The urumee is a double-headed hourglass-shaped musical drum from the state of Tamil Nadu, in the southern part of India. Two skin heads of the instrument are fixed to a single hollow, usually intricately constructed wooden shell. The preferred wood for the musical instrument is the jack wood, although other wood can be used.  Both the left and the right heads of the instrument are often manufactured from cow hide that is spread around a thin metal ring. Eight holes or seven holes is perforated on the circumference of each head of the musical instrument the two heads of the musical instrument are held in tension by a continuous rope that is woven around the musical drum in a V-shape style. Additional small coils of string or steel are knotted around each pair of ropes near the left head of the musical instrument. The coils on the instrument can be slide horizontally along the length of the musical instrument, increasing or decreasing the tension between the heads of the instrument is important.

source of picture: tanjoreveenai.com

The urumee is slung with a cloth strap across the shoulder of the player and played by the drummer in a horizontal form. The simple harness permits the player of the musical instrument to play the drum standing or walking. The musical instrument is entirely played with the use of sticks. There are five basic sounds that can be produced on the musical instrument; an open sound is manufactured by striking the right head of the drum, a deep resonant moaning sound is manufactured by striking the right head of the instrument while gradually rubbing the left head of the instrument with the use of the edge of a long curved stick, a bent talking drum-like tone that the right head of the instrument is struck while the left hand of the player squeezes and releases the rope holding the heads of the instrument together, and two closed sounds manufactured by striking and pressing the left and right stick respectively. Castor oil is normally applied to the left head of the instrument so as to facilitate the player’s ability to manufacture the moaning sound from the musical instrument.

As an oral tradition, Tamil folk music does not have a codified system of written notation. Musical players learn through years of unconscious interest, conscious paying of attention, imitation and practice.

The urumee is a folk musical instrument that is commonly played by Daltis. This musical drum is generally believed to have supernatural as well as sacred powers. When played in the religious occasions and processions, the playing of particular beats on the musical instrument may induce spirit possessions or trance. The musical instrument is also played in the south Indian state called Kerala that boarders Tamil Nadu. The musical instrument is commonly played in two kinds of ensembles: the urumi melam and Naiyandi melam. The drum may also be heard on commercial recordings of film sound tracks and well-known folk melodies.