| Description |
Pa’ma is also known as Pa’ma - Gyi. It is the biggest double-headed drum in ensemble which is hung on a horizontal beam on tripods to play it. But, today, the Pa’ma drum is not placed on tripods, but placed on the forks.
Kokko wood is used to make Pa’ma. Though the Padauk wood is more suitable for making it, it is hard to find the flawless and big Padauk wood because the size of the Patma drum is bigger than other drums. The thickness of ox skin is important in making its drum head. The leather stretched of the female side (wider drumhead) must be thinner, whereas the leather of the male side (narrower drumhead) be thicker. The size of taught cord used to tighten the leather is about one inch. The Pa’ma is a double-headed drum with two drumheads called female and male drumheads. The circumference of female drumhead is wider than male drumhead's. And there is a dome shape on the surfaces of both sides. The four-third of female drumhead is dome shape, making the biggest dome shape among leather-covered drums. The Pa’ma has a strap which can be used to hang or to carry it.
Pamatee or members of drums ensemble playing big drums and bass drums plays a leading role in musical troupe. |
