Ethnomusicology; The Chenda

The Chenda is a percussive instrument of a cylindrical shape. The instrument is used mainly in the state of Kerala, which is located in Southwestern India. The instrument is mainly known for it accompaniment with Hindu religious art forms in Kerala. It accompanies many different forms of traditional dance, such as the Kathakali. The drum is made of a wooden cylinder, covered on both sides by what is usually cow skin. When being played, it will be hung from the neck using a long piece of cloth. To play it, the drummer uses two sticks, the right hand stick usually being lighter while the left is heavier. It is common for Chenda players to not use a left hand stick, but use only their hand.

With the knowledge gathered from being taught to play the Chenda, learning some forms of Melam, we learned the significance of each hand and their movements. The left hand is primarily used to make a steady rhythm, usually playing single notes one after another at any rhythm. The right hand is significant because it is used to make, one could say, the accompanying melody to the rhythm set by the left hand. The right hand uses a wrist technique, which, as demonstrated by our teachers, can be trained to get a fast succession of notes.

-Lorcan Jowers