A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Tambourine

by Victor de Pontigny

TAMBOURINE (Fr. Tambour de Basque). This consists of a wooden hoop, on one side of which is stretched a vellum head, the other side being open. Small rods with fly-nuts serve to tighten or loosen the head. It is beaten by the hand without a stick. Several pairs of small metal plates, called jingles, are fixed loosely round the hoop by a wire passing through the centres of each pair, so that they jingle whenever the tambourine is struck by the hand or shaken. Another effect is produced by rubbing the head with the finger. It is occasionally used in orchestras, as in Weber's overture to 'Preciosa,' and at one time was to be seen in our military bands. In the last century it was a fashionable instrument for ladies. The instrument is probably of Oriental origin, being very possibly derived from the Hebrew Toph^[1] (Exod. xv. 20). The Egyptian form is somewhat similar to our own, but heavier, as may be seen from the woodcut, taken from Lane's 'Modern Egyptians.'

The French Tambourin is quite a different thing, and is described under the 3rd kind of Drums, as well as under its proper name. [Drum 3, and Tambourin.]

The modern Egyptians have drums (Darabukkeh) with one skin or head, and open at the bottom, which is the only reason for classifying them with tambourines. [See vol. i. p. 463.] The annexed woodcut (also from Lane) shows two examples; the first of wood, inlaid with shell and mother-of-pearl, 17 inches high and 6½ diameter at top; the second is of earthenware, 10½ inches high and 8¼ diameter.

[ V. de P. ]

1. This root survives in the Spanish adufe, a tambourine.