● Instrument Reference · Desk-Verified Dossier
Chenda
ചെണ്ടCylindrical jackfruit-wood percussion drum of Kerala struck with curved tamarind or bamboo sticks, driving Kathakali, Theyyam, and temple melam ensembles.
Classification
Instrument
Origin / Scope
India
Connected Rooms
2 Traditions
Bibliography
1 Source
Archival note & context
Carved from a single seasoned trunk of jackfruit wood (Artocarpus heterophyllus) and tensioned with multi-layered cowhide heads laced in V-patterns with hemp rope, the chenda divides its two faces into the crisp high-pitched valanthala and resonant bass edanthala.
In Kathakali and Theyyam, the lead chenda percussionist mirrors every flicker of the actor's eyes and mudra gestures in real time.
Used in traditions
2Sources
1What’s on this page is sourced from the citation below.
| Source | Publisher | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| Chenda and Temple Percussion of Kerala — Sangeet Natak Akademi Monograph | Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, 2014 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |