Making
Drums
by D Waring
Softcover
225 x 265mm
96pp
Published by Sterling Publishing Co. Inc., New York USA
R.R.P.$19.90
ISBN 9781895569810
Primitive Drum
Irish Drum
Middle East Drum
Latin Drum
Indian Drum
Cylindrical and Conical Drums
Compound Conical Drums
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 116
There is a special quality about making musical instruments. No matter how much care you take in the selection of the materials, no matter how much attention you give to detail and no matter what kind of finish you apply, the success of your project must inevitably depend more upon how the instrument sounds, than upon what it looks like.
So guidance would seem to be a highly desirable prerequisite for those engaging in the making of a musical instrument for the first time.
Making Drums offers the experience of not only Dennis Waring, the nominal author of the book, but five contributors — each of whom has a specific interest in a particular kind of drum.
It should be acknowledged right from the start that this is not a woodworking book in the familiar sense, for although wood is the dominant material used for many of the drums, the projects include instruments made from a variety of other materials as well. That said, the section on Staved Drums and to some extent the notes on making Carved Drums, show that several of these projects would prove an excellent test of woodworking skills.
The book begins with an introduction to drum styles and origins. It continues with what is termed A Little Science, a chapter devoted to a brief but informative description, in plain language, of how a drum makes music.
The next, much larger section, discusses the Rawhide Drumhead —not only the basics of obtaining and treating hides, but also the many methods by which they may be secured to the body of the drum; this leads into a discussion of the various techniques used for lacing a drumhead.
The project notes range far and wide over the subject — a Primitive Drum, Irish Drum, Middle East Drum, Staved Drums, Carved Drums, Clay Drums... Along the way, the discourse touches on topics of special interest to woodworkers, such as the milling and steambending of drum frames.
While some will see the value of the book purely in terms of the projects it contains, it offers more than this.
Making Drums provides a broad background to the art and craft of drum making in several cultures. It gives the reader an insight into the value of the drum as an expression of individual identity through its music.
About
the Author:
Dennis Waring is an ethnomusicologist, educator, performer
and instrument maker. He teaches education and world music courses, and performs
in schools, universities and other community-based institutions. He is the author
of Great Folk Instruments to Make and Play, Cool Cardboard Instruments to Make
and Play and Make Your Own Electric Guitar and Bass.
Photos: Colour
Units of Measurement: Imperial
Contents
Acknowledgment
Preface
Introduction
Drum
Making Basics
Drum
Morphology
Body Basics
Drum Categories
Nature's Resource
A
Little Science
Sound Basics
Drum Acoustics
Attaching Drumheads
Neck-Laced Drumheads
Glued Drumheads
Tacks, Staples and Pegs
Lacing
Logistics
Flesh Hoop
Counter Hoop
Lacing Patterns
Adjustable Hardware
Drumhead Tuning
The
Mali Weave
Knot-Tying Process
Laping Skin Onto Hoop
Lacing the
Drumhead
Drum Project Examples
Frame
Drums
Making Circular Frames
Primitive Drum
Irish Drum
Middle
East Drum
Latin Drum
Indian Drum
Staved
Drum
Variations On a Bevel
Cylindrical and Conical Drums
Compound
Conical Drums
Carved
Drums
Cultural
Perspective & Drum Carving
Clay
Drums
Goblet Drum
Contributor Profiles
Index