What is this thing called?

[Mark James]

What is this thing called?

I think it's a musical instrument of some sort, but I've never seen one before.
It's sorta' like a tambourine, but with metal rings that make noise.
About 18" in diameter, with see-through plastic on one side,
and one padded area on the perimeter that is for holding it (I think).
I literally found it in the street, in it's convenient carrying case.
?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q2gtab3k1m64svy/IMG_20160821_164419_953%206.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8wni5l1o34dbxu1/IMG_20160821_164510_909%206.jpg

Thanks.

Mark53

[Peter Wilcox]

daf or qaval
http://www.iran-daily.com/content/imgca ... 50_365.jpg

"The daf is a frame drum, also called qaval, that is widely used in Azerbaijani folk music as well as in the classical mugham. Fish, goat skin, or nowadays plastic provides the playing surface. Jingling metal rings are sometimes attached to the inside of the frame."
There's an audio sample on the page - doesn't sound like a steep learning curve.
http://www.folkways.si.edu/magazine-spr ... mithsonian

"A daf is a large-sized tambourine used to accompany both popular and classical music in Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey (where it is called tef), Uzbekistan (where it's called childirma), India (where it is known as the Dafli) and Turkmenistan. Daf typically indicates the beat and tempo of the music being played, thus acts like the conductor in the monophonic oriental music. The Persian poet Rudaki, who widely used names of the musical instruments in his poems, mentions the daf and the tambourine (taboorak) in a Ruba'i:

A common use of tambourine (Daf) is by Albanians. They are often played by women and bridesmaids in wedding cases to lead the ceremony when bride walks down the aisle."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambourine#Daf

[Eric Knapp]

Here's one of my favorite things I've heard from a Daf. Combinging a very old instrument with one of the newest has a fascinating result. I play the Chapman Stick and this guy is well known in the community and is really good.

http://youtu.be/Pd4ZWDV3eJc

-Eric

[Mark James]

Wow. Very cool.
Thanks for the great information, people.
Much appreciated.