“Rat-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta,” Tyrone’s hands move quickly through the air as he beats out the rhythm on his tassa drum. “Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum,” Terry follows him on the bass. And their music sets your feet a-tapping and your head a-nodding, enticing you to dance.
Tyrone, born Ishwar Mohan on July 29, 13 years ago, is an accomplished tassa drum player. His brother Terry, 16, whose name is Michael Mohan, defers to him. He says Tyrone is the “technical player”.
Tyrone, who attends Plaisance Secondary School and is in Form One Hibiscus, has been playing the tassa since he was 10 years old. In an interview with The Scene at his home at 163 Second Street, Success, East Coast Demerara, Tyrone recalled how he started. He had gone to wedding in his village when he was ten and had seen a group of persons playing the drums. Always an extrovert, Tyrone recalled that he approached the man who appeared to be in charge and asked if he would teach him.
“When dem man start play, me sit down and listen,” Tyrone said. He later went home after the wedding and proceeded to “knock old tinning cups”. This must have persuaded his parents, Dharmendra Mohan and Lalita Balroop, that he was serious—or else the noise was just too much—because he and Terry were subsequently sent to Lusignan, where they were taught the rudiments by ‘Sir’ Raghu, a former school teacher, who has a tassa group. Tyrone said Sir Raghu also taught members of the group Maths and English.
Tyrone recalled that he started out in the group playing the jhaal – a pair of cymbals – before moving on to the drums, where his interest really lay. He can now play all of the instruments but prefers his small round drum which he made himself.
Tyrone’s drum was made from a small kahari (a deep iron saucepan in which curry is traditionally cooked). The kahari’s handles were removed and several bolts welded on around the outside. A synthetic drum skin was then stretched over the open top of the kahari and secured to the sides using the bolts. Tyrone then attached a long soft piece of red cotton, which he loops over his head to place the drum directly in front of him so he can use both hands to play.
Tyrone also made his own drumsticks from two lengths of plastic which he cut from a clothing hanger and then wrapped the head with tape. The flexibility of his drumsticks allows Tyrone to play quickly and to play a roll sound when he is about to change the rhythm.
Terry’s bass drum is also homemade. The brothers used a five-gallon plastic bucket and stretched a piece of goat skin over its open top fastening it securely.
Tyrone has played at more venues than his older brother. He recalled that while he was still a member of Sir Raghu’s group, the group travelled to Suriname where the members played for four consecutive days at a huge function at a Hindu temple in that country. He has played at weddings, one as far away as Leguan Island in the Essequibo River; at jags and at international cricket at the National Stadium, Providence. He said when he played in the group there would usually be at minimum, two tassa drums, two bass drums and a jhaal.
Tyrone and Terry now play alone – one tassa and one bass drum – and their music is just as sweet. The Scene was privileged to hear and see the brothers in operation at a wedding at the Aracari Resort last month. Last weekend they played at a jag in their home village. Their reputation is spread by “word of mouth”, Tyrone said. The brothers’ availability is mostly limited to weekend engagements as Tyrone is still at school while Terry works as a mechanic apprentice.
Asked what he would like to be when he grows up Tyrone said he hoped he would be able to “always play tassa… and cricket too!” But he is also drawn to things mechanical and will probably follow in Terry’s footsteps.
Tyrone is an ardent all-rounder who was on his school’s team while he attended the Chateau Margot Primary School. Sadly for him, his secondary school does not have a cricket team, but he said a teacher would sometimes arrange matches among the students.
In addition, Tyrone is a member of the All Star cricket team at Success. He is on the under-15 team and has earned several trophies for ‘man of the match’, ‘best bowler’, ‘best catcher’ among others.