Tag: tamburello
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Southern Italy and Sicily have an ancient tradition of drumming and dancing practiced for anything from celebrations to healing rituals. These frame drums (called tamburelli in Italian) are a modern example of the instrument design used for centuries: wood treated and formed into a circle, then covered with a dried goat, sheep, or even, fish…
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An ancient urn from Sicily depicts a scene inspired by the rites of the Greek god Dionysius as celebrated by his cult, who are known as Bacchantes. Note the frame drums or tamburelli and the thyrsus, a giant fennel staff topped with a pine cone and ivy leaves. A thyrsus is a symbol of fertility.…