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| Background |
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Rhythm forms the basis for all melody. Ever since human beings walked the earth we have used rhythm to communicate. Animal skins were stretched across hollowed out logs to create a means of communication. To this day we can still witness how different tribes “talk” to each other by beating different patterns or rhythms on log drums.
One example of a log drum is a “Talking Drum”, so called because of the sound it produces. It is made from a hollowed out piece of wood and has animal skins stretched across both the top and bottom. These skins are joined by strings of cord or leather and when squeezed in and out and hit at the same time, produce different pitches of sound. |
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Percussion is the name given to any instrument that you hit to make a sound. The following sections outline the various types of percussion and the instruments that make up each group. |
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| Orchestral Percussion |
Some of the instruments that form part of the orchestral percussion section include: the Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone and Tubular Bells. These are all keyboard instruments and are known as tuned percussion. They have notes of defined pitch and the order of the notes is exactly the same as a piano keyboard. The difference is in how they are played. Tuned percussion instruments are played using sticks or mallets.
Another important tuned percussion instrument is the Timpani, or Kettledrums.
They are usually made from copper and are played with felt covered sticks. Modern timpani can be tuned to notes of different pitch by means of a foot pedal.
The other section of orchestral percussion is called un-tuned percussion. These instruments have no definite pitch e.g. Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Cymbal, Triangle, Tambourine etc.
They play an equally important part of the percussion section by adding strict rhythm as well as many colourful sounds such as the roar of a bass drum, the lightning crash of a cymbal or the military sound of a snare drum. |
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| Latin Percussion |
Latin Percussion forms the basis for many percussive rhythms from South America to Brazil to Cuba. Latin instruments include Congas, Bongos Cowbells, Maracas, Guiros and Claves. Congas are played using different hand rhythms, while Bongos are played using different finger rhythms. Latin instruments can also be used in the orchestra. It depends on the music that is being played by the orchestra. Modern and contemporary music tends to use these instruments more to bring colour to the music. |
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| Drum Kit |
The drum kit consists of Snare Drum, Tom-Toms, a Bass or Kick Drum and Cymbals. There are a number of different types of cymbals including Ride, Crash, Splash and Hi-Hat.
A foot pedal is used to play the Bass/Kick Drum. The Tom-Toms are played using sticks or brushes. The cymbals are played again with sticks or brushes and either the hand or foot can play the Hi-Hat Cymbal. Both hands and feet combine to create different rhythms or patterns. |
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