Native American Musical Instruments... Drums and Violins

Musical instruments such as drums and violins are made frequently for use in ceremonies.

Drums are made from pieces of goatskin stretched over a wooden frame. They are used extensively during the Holy Week or Semana Santa festivities before Easter. As drums are considered ceremonial items, they can be difficult to find during much of the year. The drums are brightly decorated by hand using crushed iron oxide. Then, as the ceremonies are beginning, they beat the drums as a call to gather the people. During the festivals the sound of the drums can be heard drifting throught the mountain villages for miles.

Violins were first introduced to the Tarahumara Indians by the Spanish and have come to play an important role in Tarahumara music and celebrations. The violins are all carved by hand, a painstaking process. Recently, these precious works of art have been produced with an intricately carved animal figure on the scroll of the instrument. The primitive violins are played as the dancers, men (Matachines) dressed in brightly colored costumes do the traditional dance day and night for several days.