Instrument · Percussion
Khishba
خشبة (khishba / khashaba)
A narrow wooden drum with a small membrane and an unusually dry, sharp and penetrating sound. It can produce extremely rapid finger patterns.
Iraq
Origin
The khishba is strongly associated with southern Iraq, particularly Basra and musical traditions of the Gulf-facing region. Museum examples describe a long wooden drum with a small skin head, played rapidly with both hands.
Role in the dance
It is one of the characteristic sounds encountered in Iraqi folk and popular dance music. Its rapid-fire texture works particularly well with energetic Iraqi movement, head and hair work, shoulder accents and quick steps.
Music
Rhythms it plays
Khaleeji
2/4One of the best-known Gulf rhythmic feels. Its recognizable 3+3+2 subdivision creates the swaying, rolling character strongly associated with Gulf music. Authentic Gulf percussion can be layered across several drums, so a single-darbuka transcription is necessarily simplified.
Malfuf
2/4A fast, rolling rhythm often heard at the beginning or end of an oriental routine. Excellent for travelling steps, entrances, exits, veil entrances and fast transitions. Its accent structure has a characteristic 3+3+2 feeling.