Bendir (frame drum)
Unknown Artist
late 19th century
Medium
wood, parchment
Dimensions
Diam. 1 ft. 6 in.
Classification
Membranophone-single-headed / frame drum
Culture
Moroccan
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.1320
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Musical Instruments at the Metropolitan Museum of, where we spotlight the Bend, a captivating frame drum from late 19th-century Morocco.ed from wood and parchment, this single-headed membranophone measures generous 18 inches in diameter making it a substantial instrument designed for resonant, communal performances. The taut parchment skin stretched over a wooden frame produces deep, rumbling tones when struck with the hand, embodying the rhythmic heart of Moroccan musical traditions. Historically, the Bendir played a vital role in North African cultures, often accompanying Suf...