as small as a world and as large as alone

3:04pm September 11, 2014

A good drum squash is not an easy thing to find. First you have to grow the squash, and it must be turned regularly, and not get any soft or rotten spots, so special hammocks are set up to form the symmetrical drum shape most highly prized. And the rind must be just the right thickness, and even, so that there aren’t any thin spots to give a sour sound, and when ready, it must be cleaned and scraped very delicately to preserve that consistency, and the cut across the widest part must be clean and even and straight. While small drum squashes aren’t hard to come by, the larger sizes requires both craftsmanship and a green thumb, and the much prized pumpkin drums are the jealously-guarded product of only a few.

It’s all worth it, though, as a percussion solo on a well-made squash set, performed by a skilled artist, is an unforgettable musical experience. - Ursula Vernon

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