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Learning Objectives

At the end of this class, you should be able to:

  • List the different ways in which percussion instruments of the orchestra make sound, including: rubbing, shaking, or striking the instrument with an implement.
  • Distinguish between idiophones and membranophones.
  • Define the following musical terms: chimes, cymbals, drums, drumstick, kettledrum, mallet, shaking, striking, tambourine, timpani, triangle, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, and resonator.

Key Points

  • Making sounds by hitting objects against one another must be one of the oldest activities known to man. The history of percussion instruments is therefore extremely rich. The percussion section of the orchestra includes most instrumental techniques used to play percussion instruments: rubbing, shaking, and striking the instrument with an implement (such as a mallet or drumstick) or with itself (such as cymbals and castanets).
  • Idiophones are instruments that produce sounds from the vibration of their own bodies—idio comes from the Latin idem meaning the thing itself.
  • Membranophones are instruments that produce sounds by vibrating a membrane or skin that is stretched over a wood or metal frame.
  • Pitch in percussion instruments is an interesting subject. Some percussion instruments are capable of producing definite pitches. These include the timpani (also known as kettledrums), the chimes, and the beautifully sounding—and closely related—xylophone, vibraphone, and marimba. Other percussion instruments, such as the tambourine, triangle, cymbals, and castanets produce sounds of indefinite pitch.
  • Percussion instruments can be classified under more than one category. A case in point are the castanets, which aside from being idiophones, as we already know, are also unpitched instruments and can, therefore, be classified as unpitched idiophones. The snare drum can be classified as an unpitched membranophone, and so on.

Listening List

Composer: Anonymous

  • "Dundun Ensemble"

Composer: Benjamin Britten

  • "The Young Person s Guide To The Orchestra, Op. 34"

Composer: Johann Strauss I

  • "Radetzky March, Op. 228"

Composer: Aaron Copland

  • "Fanfare for the Common Man"

Composer: Carl Orff

  • "Carmina Burana: Carmina Burana: O Fortuna"

Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns

  • "Carnival of the Animals"

Composer: Ney Rosauro

  • "Vibraphone Concerto: I. Recitative: Allegro"

Composer: Max Steiner

  • "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (restored J. Morgan): Narange Dolce"

Composer: David Antony Clark

  • "A Land Before Eden"

Composer: David Antony Clark

  • "Rainmakers"

Self Check

At the end of each class, you will have an opportunity to check your knowledge. Please take it as many times as you need to as this will help you prepare for the Section Quiz and the Midterm Exam.