My
Council Drum is inspired by
the Mexican Tlalpanhuehuetl. This drum is descended from the Aztec huehuetl,
which was believed to be a god forced to endure earthly exile. The ornate
carvings on the ancient drums depict the uncompromising energy of the god.
One such drum displays a group of captured warriors forced to dance to their
own music-making before their hearts were torn out and waved aloft as offering
to the Aztec god of war. I believe my offering is just as heartfelt, albeit
with a somewhat less concrete implication. My Council Drum is a floor-standing tom-tom suitable for drummers seated on chairs. Intended for solitary meditative practice as well as ceremonial, ritual, and communal drumming, it has a big round sound when played to the full. Yet, in a more intimate setting, the large natural goatskin head rings with a wonderful complexity, whether played with the hands or with padded mallets. This handsome drum has a rich earthly sound that emphasizes the lower harmonics without sacrificing resonace and clarity.