Side drum; dah

Side drum, double membrane cylindrical drum made for Indian marching bands, used as a substitute for a dah, a double membrane frame drum (see 2005.159). Brass shell and counterhoops securing the flesh hoops, over which the two drum skins are lapped. Ten screw tensioning rods tightened by wing nuts are mounted through rings screwed to the outside of the brass counterhoops. A plastic ring for suspending the drum is attached to top of the shell. The drum was purchased by Rolf Killius from the Tashi General Store, in the Old Bazaar Line in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, and originally acquired by the shop owner from a musical instrument shop in Guahati, Assam. The drum is struck with a dahkjupha, a sickle shaped beater (2005.160.2).