Idakka
Musical instrument
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Etymology
The Malayalam name idaykka or idakka derives from the Sanskrit word श्रीढक्का (Śrīḍhakkā). In Sanskrit, a ḍhakkā is described as a double drum that makes a ḍhak sound. ढक् इति गम्भीरशब्देन कायतीति (ḍhak iti gambhīraśabdēna kāyatīti). The sacred prefix Śrī is used to denote the auspiciousness of the instrument.
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Construction
Similar to the talking drum, the idakka consists of two circular drumheads each of which is mounted within a circular ring. The hourglass-shaped body is placed between the two heads and lacing is used to pull the two rings towards each other, stretching each drumhead over an open end of the body. Snare-like strings made of natural fiber are stretched across the open ends of the drum body, under each drumhead. It is not uncommon for the diameter of the drumheads to be larger than the diameter of the body, with the result that the drumheads are often seen mounted significantly off-center.
Acoustics
The idakka is a small, high-pitched drum with definite pitch. The snares running under the drumheads have been found to interact with the vibrating membrane in a way that causes the pitch of the instrument to be determinate. Different pitches can be obtained by squeezing the lacing around the instrument, which changes the amount of tension in the skins.