The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-12-07
DRUM AND CYMBALS.
The Instruments of Percussion Used I'm a
Orchestra.

The Instruments of Percussion Used I'm an
Orchestra.
There are two kinds of persuasive in
struments-those of n definite pitch and
those used without regard to pitch for
rhythm only OF those of definite pitch,
the kettledrums are the most impor-
tant. The kettledrums are used in
pairs, hence the plural form of the
name. One drum is larger than the
other. tie larger and deeper toned be-
ing called the G. drum. and its compan-
ion, the c drum. The kettledrum is
reality copper or brass vessel, over
the head of which is stretched a calf
skin which has been treated with oil.
One principal defect of the drum is that
1T is impossible to have the membrane
of perfectly equal thickness. and SO the
sound vibration is in paired. The let-
tledrum is tuned b. means of num-
Der of large screws around its edge,
and tuning is laborious work. At
tempts have been made to tune by me-
chanical appliances, but hand work
still excels
This drum is struck near the edge
for bright effects, otherwise in the
middle. Two pairs of drumsticks are
used for producing variety in tone
color The points of execution of this
drum are long notes. short notes (the
tone being checked by touching the
drumhead with the hand), trills and
muted notes, the last being played by
putting a cloth over the drumhead.
The kettledrums were formerly used
in military bands, and are still used
somewhat in cavalry bands. where the
kettledrums are strapped together and
hung over the horses neck. one on
either side. The compass of these in
struments is any two tones between
great + and small +. Beethoven was
the liberator of the kettledrums. as of
SO many other instruments. The tone
color of the instrument is one of
anxiety and suspense, and has been
used by Beethoven, Haydn, Berlioz,
Meyerbeer and Wagner with most
dramatic effect. The largest number of
kettledrums ever used at one time was
in BerliOz's mass, where, with sixteen
OF these instruments used in a rising
crescendo. he pictures the confusion of
the Judgment day, leading on to the
sound of the last trump. There was
one expert lettledrum player. Pfund,
German for pound, was such an artist
that his playing worked a reform in
the orchestra with regard to the ket-
tledrum. 1t is now given only to COM
petent players in this particular
branch. 1t used to be given to the in
valid OF the orchestra.
The bass drum is used for rhythm.
In loud passages it portrays boisterous
festivity, and in soft passages is used
to express mystery. 1t is played with
one drumstick, with the end covered
with channels. The side drum is used
very effectively in working up a ere
scendo. The best use of it was made
by Berlioz in his Damnation of
Faust"
The glockenspiel, German for
chime of bells, is composed of small
bars of steel of varying lengths. 1t is
used in passages of extreme sweetness,
and almost never enters into sympho-
nies. Bells are initiated by Berlioz in
his Childe Harold symphony by using
the reverberation of the horn. with the
wang of the harp, for cathedral bell,
and by uniting flute and clarinet with
the harp for higher toned bell. The
most effective bell effects are in the
HuguenOts and IL Trovatore.
The XylophOne consists of number
IF bars of wood of different lengths,
placed on frame, which are struck
with mallet. 1t was used by st.
Saens in the Dance of the Dead. to
represent the bones of the skeletons
knocking together.
Cymbals are without definite pitch
They are used for the clangor of fes-
,ivity, and for rhythmic effects. The
iom-tom is the ordinary Chinese gong,
and is used at climaxes of catastroph-
ic nature.
The triangle is a bent bar of steel
md has been used to initiate the tink
ling of sheep bells, and also in gypsy
music. The tambOurine is also a gypsy
instrument, and is used in all tropical
lance music.
The castanets are two hollow bits of
hard wood which are clicked together.