The daf is a large frame drum — that is, a drum with a shallow round frame over which a single head is stretched. It is widely used in Persia (Iran), Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and other countries of the Middle East and the Caucasus. On the inner side of the frame numerous metal rings are usually hung.
These rings, jingling with every strike and shake, add to the deep sound of the head a characteristic ringing “rustle” that creates a rich, “shimmering” sonic palette. The player holds the daf upright and plays with the fingers of both hands, skilfully alternating booming bass strokes in the centre with ringing ones at the edge. The daf has an ancient spiritual significance: its solemn, hypnotic rhythm has long accompanied the rites of the Sufis, lending their music a meditative, ecstatic character.
