Nakkare

Overview

The nakkare is a pair of small kettle drums used in Turkish music. The two drums are different sizes, producing two different pitches that interlock in patterns played with thin sticks. The nakkare is closely related to the Sufi kudüm and to a wider family of paired kettle drums found across the Islamic world, from the Maghreb to South Asia.

Origin & History

Paired small kettle drums have a long history across the Middle East and the Islamic world, used in court ceremonies, military music, and religious contexts. In Turkish tradition the kudüm is closely associated with Mevlevi (Sufi) ceremonial music, while the term nakkare tends to refer to similar paired drums used in folk and military settings. Different traditions use different names and sizes, and the boundaries between them are not strict.

How It’s Played

The two drums of the nakkare are placed in front of the seated player, who strikes them with a pair of thin sticks. Patterns alternate between the higher and lower drum, creating interlocking rhythms that drive song, dance, or processional music. In Sufi practice the drums play a quieter, more meditative role; in folk and military settings they are louder and more assertive.

Cultural Significance

The nakkare and its relatives have served important roles in many traditional contexts: marking time in court ceremonies, accompanying mystical practice, and signalling presence in military and processional music. Today they continue to appear in classical Turkish, Sufi, and traditional ensemble settings, and their distinctive paired sound has influenced percussion across a wide cultural area.

Related Instruments

• Kudüm – the closely related Mevlevi Sufi kettle drum
• Naqareh – the broader family across the Islamic world
• Nagara – a regional South Asian paired kettle drum
• Tabla – a contrasting Indian paired hand-drum tradition
• Bendir – a North African frame drum companion

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the nakkare the same as the kudüm?
They are very closely related, with similar form and playing technique. Kudüm is more often used in Mevlevi Sufi music, while nakkare is used more broadly.

Are the two drums tuned to specific pitches?
They produce two different pitches — a higher and a lower — but precise tuning varies by maker and tradition.

Are they played with the hands?
No. The nakkare is played with a pair of thin sticks rather than with the hands.

Image: photograph by Roberto.astuto, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).