Percussion
History
Percussion instruments are the most ancient and primitive instruments known. It is so basic of human nature to strike or to rub objects together. Most percussion entered the orchestra in the Classical or Romantic period, with the timpani, being utilized the earliest. Initially, there was a lack of respect for percussion playing because there was a lack of systematic learning, books, instruction on technique, lack of good teaching methods.
Types of Percussion
Idiophones - produce sound by vibrating the entire body
Cymbals, claves, triangles, castanets, sticks, clappers, rattles, bells
Tuned idiophones - mallet percussion (marimba), chimes, xylophone, glockenspiel
Membranophones - produce sound when a membrane is struck
Tuned membranophones - timpani (kettledrums), Latin and marching instruments, tamborine
Aerophones - require wind to produce sound
Train whistles, slide whistles, sirens, bullroarers
Chordophones - produce sound by striking a string with a hammer or similar vice
Piano, dulcimer
Electrophones - electronic percussion
Drum machine
Programmatic sounds - thunder, whistle of a quail, gunshot, chirp of cricket, cannons, broom beating drum, brake drums, kitchen chairs
Accessory percussion: triangles, tambourines, bongos, conga drums, timbales, ratchet, cowbells, woodblocks, claves, maracas, guiro, sleigh bells, agogo bells, castanets, cabasa, crotales, bell trees, wind chim,es finger cymbals, sirens, slide whistles, bird calls, whip cracks, shaker, temple blocks, vibraslap, anvil.
Percussion instruments are the most ancient and primitive instruments known. It is so basic of human nature to strike or to rub objects together. Most percussion entered the orchestra in the Classical or Romantic period, with the timpani, being utilized the earliest. Initially, there was a lack of respect for percussion playing because there was a lack of systematic learning, books, instruction on technique, lack of good teaching methods.
Types of Percussion
Idiophones - produce sound by vibrating the entire body
Cymbals, claves, triangles, castanets, sticks, clappers, rattles, bells
Tuned idiophones - mallet percussion (marimba), chimes, xylophone, glockenspiel
Membranophones - produce sound when a membrane is struck
Tuned membranophones - timpani (kettledrums), Latin and marching instruments, tamborine
Aerophones - require wind to produce sound
Train whistles, slide whistles, sirens, bullroarers
Chordophones - produce sound by striking a string with a hammer or similar vice
Piano, dulcimer
Electrophones - electronic percussion
Drum machine
Programmatic sounds - thunder, whistle of a quail, gunshot, chirp of cricket, cannons, broom beating drum, brake drums, kitchen chairs
Accessory percussion: triangles, tambourines, bongos, conga drums, timbales, ratchet, cowbells, woodblocks, claves, maracas, guiro, sleigh bells, agogo bells, castanets, cabasa, crotales, bell trees, wind chim,es finger cymbals, sirens, slide whistles, bird calls, whip cracks, shaker, temple blocks, vibraslap, anvil.