Percussion Cheat Sheet

Percussion Why are orchestra intermissions limited to 20 minutes? ¥ So you don't have to retrain the percussion section. The final instrument family in this tour is the Percussion family. This section of the symphony orchestra is also known as the Òkitchen departmentÓ because of its extensive variety of rhythmical instruments and accessories. The percussion section brings tremendous amounts of excitement to music, so letÕs take a look at the last instrument family of the orchestra! Cool Facts To qualify as a member of the percussion family, an instrument must produce its sound when it is either hit or stricken. Percussion instruments are some of the oldest of all musical instruments. The percussion family is approaching the importance achieved by the string or wind family because today's composers are exploring more complex rhythms and unusual sounds. The main function of percussion instruments is to provide a beat and keep the rhythm. Nevertheless, there are some percussion instruments that are capable of playing melodies in the orchestra. These are used often and create a very unique sound color. Historic Background The origin of percussion instruments dates all the way back to prehistoric men beating out rhythms on hollow tree trunks, or by working with their hunting tools. Rhythm dates back further than recorded civilization. Musical references to rhythm and percussion-like instruments can be found in prehistoric art, such as paintings on ceramics or in caves. Role of Percussion The role of the percussion family has changed over the centuries. Their main musical function has been to provide rhythm stability. However, percussion instruments now play melodic passages within the symphony orchestra. The instruments in the percussion family do not play all the time, because the constant beating sound could create an overpowering effect within the orchestra. Composers are particularly careful when they use percussion instruments because of their high volume levels. The use of percussion instruments must contribute to the balance and articulation of the composition. Use of Percussion Prior to the 1900s, composers used percussion instruments to emphasize certain strong moments in their music. The main role of the percussion was to set the rhythmic platform for the melodic instruments. Un-pitched Group The following series of instruments are classified as part of the un-pitched group of the percussion family. Un-pitched means that these instruments are capable of producing sounds or rhythms without a definitive pitched sound. LetÕs visit them in detail! - The Bass Drum - The Tambourine - The Woodblock - The Gong (Tam Tam) - Miscellaneous Percussion - The Snare drum - The Cymbals - The Chinese Temple Block - The Triangle Please note the following un-pitched group instrument pictures. They will be on the exam and you will have to recognize pictures of these instruments. The Bass Drum The bass drum has two heads and it is generally played from the right side. The right side of the bass drum is known as the upper head. Drummers do not play on the lower head. This part of the bass drum adds to its vibration and resonance. The sound of the bass drum is low and thunderous. The Snare Drum The snare drum is the drum that you are probably most familiar with, as it is part of the drum set used by rock bands. One feature that is common between all snare drums is that they have two heads. The upper head is used for playing, while the lower one has a stretched set of strings that vibrates when the drum is beaten. The sound of the snare changes significantly if you disengage the set of metal strings. Take a look at the set of metal strings that is located over the lower drum head. The Tambourine The Tambourine is another popular instrument that is part of the percussion section of the symphony orchestra. When the tambourine is shaken or stricken, it jingles to add a sparkling or festive atmosphere to the music being played. The Cymbals There are two types of cymbals: the handheld cymbals and the suspended cymbals. The handheld cymbals are played by hand, while the suspended cymbals are stricken with soft mallets. The cymbals have the most striking appeal within the percussion instrument, and perhaps within the entire orchestra. Their characteristic sound color creates excitement every time that they are played. The Woodblock The woodblock is a small, partially hollow piece of wood that produces a tic tock sound, like a big clock, when tapped with a hard stick or mallet. The Chinese Temple Blocks The Chinese temple blocks sound like galloping horses. The bigger blocks produce a sound that is deeper than the smallest block. The Gong or Tam Tam The Gong is of Chinese origin. The gong is also known as the Tam Tam. This instrument is made of a bronze alloy and can be flat-shaped or saucer-shaped. When a musician strikes a tam tam, the resulting sound is like an atomic bomb. At first, the sound is quiet and then opens and expands to a loud, crashing sound. Its size varies and it can be very expensive. The Triangle The triangle is one of the smallest instruments of the percussion family. The sound it produces is high, clear, and very penetrating. Miscellaneous Percussion These pictures show miscellaneous percussion instruments such as the: sleigh bells, castanets, and slap stick. They are common instruments that are found in the percussion section of a musical ensemble and they make a good set of miscellaneous musical instruments used by percussionists of all musical genres. Pitched Group The following series of instruments are classified as part of the pitched group of the percussion family. A pitched percussion instrument is capable of producing pitched sounds when hit or stricken. LetÕs now take a look at the pitched group of the percussion family. - Timpani - Xylophone - Piano - Celesta - Glockenspiel - Chimes (Tubular Bells) - Harpsicord Please note the following pitched group instrument pictures. They will be on the exam and you will have to recognize pictures of the instruments. The Timpani The timpani was the first percussion instrument to gain permanent access to the orchestra. The timpani has been used since the Baroque period of music. The timpani produces a variety of pitches, as where most other drums can only produce a sharp or crisp accent without a definite pitch. Generally, four timpani are used within the symphony orchestra. A tuning machine allows them to be tuned while the orchestra is playing. Smaller timpani allow for brighter sounds, or pitches. The timpani and other tuned drums, SUCH AS, play higher notes if their heads are stretched tightly. If the head is loosened, then the note will be lower. By using different sticks, timpani players are able to get different sounds qualities and colors. Commonly, percussionists will carry a little case with a wide variety of sticks and mallets. A percussionist will used these to accommodate for the ample diversity of tonal color that conductors or composers require. Notice the differences between the mallets that are shown in the picture. The Glockenspiel The Glockenspiel is also known as orchestra bells. It contains about 30 steel plates of different sizes that are arranged like a piano keyboard and mounted in a case. It produces a very metallic sound. The Xylophone The xylophone is one of the most popular melodic percussion instruments. Its plates, or bars, are made of rosewood instead of steel. It is used in both classical and popular music. The Chimes or Tubular Bells Since it is very impractical to have real church bells in an orchestra setting, they are substituted with long steel tubes of varying lengths. These tubes are stricken at the top with a small hammer. They are called tubular bells or chimes. The Piano I am sure that pianists will disagree that the piano is included in the pitched category. However, there are times when the piano is used for a more percussive effect rather than a solo role. For the purpose of this class, the piano is also included as a member of the percussion family. Its vast network of little hammers strike the strings, causing them to vibrate. The Harpsichord The harpsichord was the largest keyboard instrument from the sixteenth through the mid-eighteenth century. During the latter part of the eighteenth century, the harpsichord began to lose favor, due mainly to the introduction of the piano. Since keyboard instruments were not able to play volume changes, one keyboard was used for loud passages and the other for soft passages. Note that it has two rows of keys. The Celesta The Celesta is a keyboard instrument patented in 1886 by Auguste Mustel of Paris. As you can see, it resembles an upright piano. The celesta consists of a set of steel bars that are fastened over wood resonators. These resonators are stricken by hammers that are operated from the keyboard. The celesta has a range of four octaves and its tone is delicate and ethereal. The Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky was one of the first composers to write music for the celesta when he wrote his famous Nutcracker Suite. Final Words on the Percussion Instrument Family The wide assortment of percussion instruments provides a potpourri of musical and rhythmical options to the symphony orchestra. Its ample selection of colors and sounds add another dimension to the texture of any composition. By completing the tour of all instrument families, you are now prepared to meet the composers behind the masterpieces written for these unique and special instruments.