El Hierro drum
A robust, resonant drum characteristic of El Hierro’s musical tradition.
- Family
- Percussion
- Area
- El Hierro
History
The El Hierro drum has survived through handmade transmission and its constant presence in the island’s festive calendar. Generations of players have carried it in processions, dances and celebrations, making it a sonic marker of collective identity.
Characteristics
It is larger and more robust than the Gomera drum and has an especially powerful sound. Its wooden shell is covered with kid skin tensioned by ropes, and it is normally played with two sticks.
Where it is used
It accompanies dancers at El Hierro’s main religious and patronal festivities, especially the Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyes. Together with the El Hierro flute and chácaras, it supports the dancers’ steps and choreography.
