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The Percussion
From the beat of the drum to the shaking of tambourines, from the rattling of maracas and the ringing of the triangle, the percussion produces an endless array of sound effects. The percussion section finalises the complete make-up of the orchestra. It is the loudest and most varied group of instruments, ranging from timpani or kettledrums, side drum (snare drum), bass drum, tenor drum, cymbals, triangle, jingling johnny, tamtam (gong), sleigh bells, cow bells, rattle, whip, wind machine thundersheet, bongos, claves, and Chinese wood blocks, to name but a few. It was not until the nineteenth century, that many percussion instruments were added to orchestras in order to create a wider range of special musical effects. Timpani The timpani or kettledrums were introduced to Europe by returning Crusaders. The large timpani can be made to sound various notes by tightening the skin or drumhead. Using a simple foot action, the tuning pedal can also be used by the timpanist to alter the pitch and note during the playing of the timpani. An orchestra may have as many as six timpani, or kettledrums, beating out the rhythm or producing a drum roll. The contemporary kettledrum comprises a copper bowl with a single sheet of calfskin stretched across the top. There are occasions where plastic is also used. The size of the bowl and the tension of the skin, will dictate the note sounded. As in the dramatic thunderstorm section of Beethoven's 'Pastoral' Symphony, the drum roll is characteristic of the kettledrum. When classical composers wrote drum parts they were pitched a fourth or a fifth apart, and it was through the laborious task of turning screws physically by hand, that the pitch could be changed, unlike the modern drums such as those used by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which are fitted with pedals to alter pitch. Side Drum The side or snare drum has a skin like membrane over each end, with strings known as the snares, which are made of animal gut, pulled right across the lower drumhead and vibrates when struck. The snare drum developed from the tabor, a small drum from medieval Europe. Bass Drum The bass drum had made its debut in western music in the 18th century, used along with the cymbals and triangle for a "Turkish" effect. The bass drum was used by Mozart in the same way in his overture to 'The Abduction from the Seraglio'. As in Verdi's 'Requiem', its heavy thud can also imply an atmosphere of doom. It is the largest drum of the orchestra and looks and sounds outstanding. Percussion Ensemble Sheet Music from KT Percussion. Includes over 40 pages of free materials. Cymbals The Ancient Greeks and Romans utilised cymbals to facilitate their religious rituals. The modern cymbals although larger with a harsher sound, have tended to retain a primitive feel. Cymbals are struck at a slight angle rather than directly together. As found with most drum kits, a single cymbal may also be suspended and played with a drumstick, a wire brush or even a metal rod. Tambourine In essence a small one sided drum with jingles mounted in the slots embedded all around its frame, the tambourine is as ancient as the cymbals. When struck, the tambourine can outline a rhythm; when oscillated, it creates a continual tremor of sound. Another possible effect is a roll made by sliding a wet finger around the rim. In his ballet Petrushka, the percussionist is directed by Stravinsky to drop a tambourine on the floor to denote the death of the heroine. Triangle The triangle's first important appearance was in the 1850's, in Liszt's First Piano Concerto. To produce single notes, the striking it on the outside is appropriate, or by repeatedly hitting the beater inside it to create a vibrating sound. Tamtam The tamtam is a large gong, as much as 1 metre in diameter, and is best remembered from the Rank film company as their trademark. Xylophone Played with two small hammers, the orchestral xylophone is comprised of wooden bars with a similar arrangement to the keys on a piano. The wooden bars are suspended over tube resonators made of metal which enables the amplification of sound. The xylophone also comes under the general heading of 'tuned percussion' as it consists of small tuned bars which are struck with small hammers, and therefore related to the tubular bells, which is the orchestra's answer to the peal in a church tower. Glockenspiel A German name meaning 'bell-play' and when played it sounds like softly chiming bells. It bears a close resemblance to the xylophone. It was used in Mozart's opera 'The Magic Flute' where Papageno, the comic bird-catcher was announced. As with the xylophone mentioned above, it also comes under the general heading of 'tuned percussion'. Vibraphone Used by Britten in his 'Spring Symphony, the vibraphone works in a similar way to the xylophone however, electrically operated discs are used to manipulate the sound. Tubular Bells The full set of tubular bells comprises 18 tubes of varying lengths, with each producing a different note in accordance with its length. Tchaikovsky's '1812' overture, portrays the tubular bells in a jubilant manner, whereas Wagner's 'Parsifal' demonstrates their use in a more deeply solemn way. Their popularity increased spreading from the orchestra into the world of pop music when one of Mike Oldfield's instrumental pieces was entitled 'Tubular Bells'. |
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