hotrârii

Hotrârii is a traditional percussion instrument associated with coastal communities of the Nysera archipelago. It is a single-headed frame drum with a shallow wooden shell, typically mounted on a stand or carried on the player’s hip. The drumhead is made from animal hide stretched over the frame and is tightened with cords or laces, allowing for a range of tonal qualities from muted thumps to bright rattling tones. Hotrârii is commonly used in communal celebrations, harvest rituals, and storytelling performances, where its steady pulse provides the rhythmic core for dances and chants.

Etymology and variants in scholarship suggest the name hotrârii derives from the Nyseran language, though the precise meaning is uncertain. Some scholars interpret the term as related to concepts of sound and earth, such as “earth echo” or “call of rain,” while others treat it as a traditional name without a transparent translation. Regional variations exist in size, ornamentation, and the material of the drumhead, with larger versions favored for public ceremonies and smaller forms used in intimate performances.

Playing technique and repertoire center on a cyclic, meter-driven approach. Players strike the drumhead with padded sticks or hands, producing a range of tones that interlock with other percussion and melody instruments. The instrument often accompanies dances, vocal responsories, and ceremonial narrations, and rhythms may encode symbolic sequences within rites.

Cultural context and contemporary status: hotrârii holds significant cultural value as a vehicle for communal memory and identity. While it remains a living practice in traditional settings, it has also been incorporated into contemporary music genres and cultural tourism, prompting discussions about preservation, transmission, and respectful representation.