Thayambaka or tayambaka is a type of solo chenda performance that developed in the south Indian state of Kerala, in which the main player at the centre improvises rhythmically on the beats of half-a-dozen or a few more chenda and ilathalam players around.
A thayambaka performance on the chenda has thus its focus on the stick-and-palm rolls produced on the itantala (treble) of the chenda, while the rhythm is laid by his fellow instrumentalists on the (bass) and (cymbals).Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham. World Music, vol. 2, p. 97 (contributor Rolf Killius). Rough Guides, 2000.
Notable practitioners Sadanam Vasudevan Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar Kalpathy Balakrishnan, * Thiruvegappura Pallavur Appu Marar Sadanam Divakara Marar.
References
Killius, Rolf. Ritual Music and Hindu Rituals of Kerala. New Delhi: BR Rhythms, 2006. (with author's permission). Paul, G. S. "Pulse of the chenda". The Hindu Friday, 8 August 2008.
External links
Melam Collections Thayambaka - Kallur Ramankutty