What it means
نقاره (naqqâre) refers to the naqqare, a pair of small kettle drums played with two thin wooden sticks. The word entered Persian from Arabic naqqâra, rooted in the Arabic verb naqqara meaning to strike or to hollow out, which describes both the act of drumming and the bowl-shaped form of the instrument. The naqqare is distinct from the dohol, which is a larger barrel drum struck by hand. Naqqare are traditionally played in pairs of different sizes, producing a high and a low pitch together, and are closely associated with outdoor ceremonial performance.
How to use it
- صدای نقاره از دور میاد. (sedâ-ye naqqâre az dur miyâd.) “The sound of the naqqare is coming from far away.”
- نقاره رو با چوب میزنن. (naqqâre ro bâ chub mizanand.) “The naqqare is struck with sticks.”
- تو موسیقی دربار از نقاره خیلی استفاده میشد. (tu musiqi-ye darbâr az naqqâre kheyli estefâde mishod.) “The naqqare was used a great deal in court music.”
- نقاره و کرنا رو با هم مینوازیدن. (naqqâre va karnâ ro bâ ham minavâzidan.) “The naqqare and karna were played together.”
Cultural note
The naqqare has historically been part of the Persian ceremonial music ensemble called naqqare-khane (drum house), which was performed from elevated platforms at city gates and palace entrances at set times of day. This tradition, closely connected to royal and military pageantry, was maintained from the Safavid period through the Qajar era. The naqqare also accompanies the karnâ, a long brass horn, in procession music. Today the instrument remains in use in ta’zieh passion plays and in certain regional folk traditions, particularly in western Iran.