Ethnic/regional chinese drums?

[xindi]

I'm trying to work out what the name of a specific drum type is.

When I was in Yunnan, I found some which were like a double hour glass design with a circular stand, narrow waist and drum on top.

It's not a Huapen Gu:



but looks like two of these joined, one turned upside down.

It's not as loud as a war drum:



It is beaten by the hand on the drum skin, and then on the side. It has a very pleasing resonance - not too deep, and more of an alto pitch than a snare drum pitch or a Bangu. I think the walls are wooden too so that they can be struck for a different drum note like these Tang Gu ones:



I haven't seen any of these ethnic 'hourglass' style drums anywhere on the internet. Wondering if they are specific to the Dongba culture in Yunnan. The only other hour glass time I found looks like a Bangu:




It's not a Jiegu either:



Although all things Tang Dynasty related to the arts are fantastic.

Does anyone know what kind of drum I'm on about?

No?

Oh well

[edcat7]

I don't know about you but they would look great in the right room

[kyokuhon]

edcat and I agree on another matter!

[xindi]

... and they sound even better!

Most drums irritate me - you can't just 'drum' in the background in middle of a lounge without being noticed.

But these drums...they can be played softly and enjoyed in the background, as well as centre stage.

Guess I'll have to keep hunting for it. A name or chinese character to describe them would help ...

[kyokuhon]

There exists a video about Chinese percussion, produced in China, that I saw several years ago, in which this and several other drums were identified by name. I believe you could see the Chinese and English (and/or pinyin?) names.

I had it from the library where my wife works, I believe this is the information from there: Chûgoku teki gakki [videorecording] = Chinese musical instruments / producer, Chen Ch’eng-hsiung.

I hope this can help.
Best, and keep playing.

[xindi]

Thanks Kyokuhon.

The only Chen Ch'eng Hsiung I know is an abstract expressionist painter. He came to London a few years ago.



Next time I'm back in Yunnan I'll work out how to take a drum back to the western hemisphere lol.

[kyokuhon]

Yes, the video was obviously old and quite likely now unavailable. These things are so ephemeral nowadays. You could try an academic library near you?

K.

[xindi]

Lol.

I live in the equivalent of Bumpkinsville although I'm sure our library still has some Betamax videos for loan ....!