Music surrounds us since childhood. And then we have the first musical instruments. Do you remember your first drum or tambourine? And what about the shiny metallophone, the records of which had to be struck with a wooden stick? What about pipes with holes in the side? With some skill it was even possible to play simple melodies on them.
Toy instruments are the first step into the world of real music. Now you can buy a variety of musical toys: from simple drums and harmonicas to almost real pianos and synthesizers. Do you think these are just toys? Not at all: in preparatory classes music schools From such toys, entire noise orchestras are made, in which kids selflessly blow pipes, knock on drums and tambourines, spur the rhythm with maracas and play their first songs on the xylophone... And this is their first real step into the world of music.
Types of musical instruments
The world of music has its own order and classification. Tools are divided into large groups: strings, keyboards, percussion, winds, and also reed. Which of them appeared earlier and which later is now difficult to say for sure. But already ancient people who shot from a bow noticed that a drawn bowstring sounds, reed tubes, when blown into them, make whistling sounds, and it is convenient to beat the rhythm on any surface with all available means. These objects became the progenitors of string, wind and percussion instruments, known already in Ancient Greece. Reed ones appeared just as long ago, but keyboards were invented a little later. Let's look at these main groups.
Brass
In wind instruments, sound is produced by vibrations of a column of air enclosed inside a tube. The greater the volume of air, the lower the sound it produces.
Wind instruments are divided into two large groups: wooden And copper. Wooden - flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, alpine horn... - are a straight tube with side holes. By closing or opening the holes with their fingers, the musician can shorten the column of air and change the pitch of the sound. Modern instruments often made not from wood, but from other materials, but traditionally they are called wooden.
Copper wind instruments set the tone for any orchestra, from brass to symphony. Trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, helicon, a whole family of saxhorns (baritone, tenor, alto) are typical representatives of this loudest group of instruments. Later, the saxophone appeared - the king of jazz.
The pitch of the sound in brass instruments changes due to the force of the air blown and the position of the lips. Without additional valves, such a pipe can produce only a limited number of sounds - a natural scale. To expand the range of sound and the ability to hit all sounds, a system of valves was invented - valves that change the height of the air column (like side holes on wooden ones). Copper pipes that are too long, unlike wooden ones, can be rolled into a more compact shape. Horn, tuba, helicon are examples of rolled pipes.
Strings
The bow string can be considered a prototype string instruments- one of the most important groups of any orchestra. The sound here is produced by a vibrating string. To amplify the sound, strings began to be pulled over a hollow body - this is how the lute and mandolin, cymbals, harp were born... and the guitar that we know well.
The string group is divided into two main subgroups: bowed And plucked tools. Bowed violins include all types of violins: violins, violas, cellos and huge double basses. The sound from them is extracted with a bow, which is drawn along the stretched strings. But for plucked bows, a bow is not needed: the musician plucks the string with his fingers, causing it to vibrate. Guitar, balalaika, lute are plucked instruments. Just like the beautiful harp, which makes such gentle cooing sounds. But the double bass is bowed or plucked instrument? Formally, it belongs to the bowed instrument, but often, especially in jazz, it is played with plucked strings.
Keyboards
If the fingers striking the strings are replaced with hammers, and the hammers are set in motion using keys, the result will be keyboards tools. The first keyboards - clavichords and harpsichords- appeared in the Middle Ages. They sounded quite quietly, but very tender and romantic. And at the beginning of the 18th century they invented piano- an instrument that could be played both loudly (forte) and quietly (piano). Long name usually shortened to the more familiar "piano". The older brother of the piano - what's that brother - the king! - that’s what it’s called: piano. This is no longer an instrument for small apartments, but for concert halls.
The keyboard includes the largest one - and one of the most ancient! - musical instruments: organ. This is no longer a percussion keyboard, like a piano and grand piano, but keyboard and wind instrument: not the musician's lungs, but a blowing machine that creates air flow into a system of tubes. This huge system is controlled by a complex control panel, which has everything: from a manual (that is, manual) keyboard to pedals and register switches. And how could it be otherwise: organs consist of tens of thousands of individual tubes of various sizes! But their range is enormous: each tube can sound only one note, but when there are thousands of them...
Drums
The oldest musical instruments were drums. It was the tapping of rhythm that was the first prehistoric music. The sound can be produced by a stretched membrane (drum, tambourine, oriental darbuka...) or the body of the instrument itself: triangles, cymbals, gongs, castanets and other knockers and rattles. A special group consists of percussion instruments that produce a sound of a certain pitch: timpani, bells, xylophones. You can already play a melody on them. Percussion ensembles consisting only of percussion instruments stage entire concerts!
Reed
Is there any other way to extract sound? Can. If one end of a plate made of wood or metal is fixed, and the other is left free and forced to vibrate, then we get the simplest reed - the basis of reed instruments. If there is only one tongue, we get Jew's harp. Reeds include harmonicas, button accordions, accordions and their miniature model - harmonica.
harmonica
On the button accordion and accordion you can see the keys, so they are considered both keyboard and reed. Some wind instruments are also reeded: for example, in the already familiar clarinet and bassoon, the reed is hidden inside the pipe. Therefore, the division of tools into these types is arbitrary: there are many tools mixed type.
In the 20th century, the friendly musical family was replenished with another large family: electronic instruments . The sound in them is created artificially using electronic circuits, and the first example was the legendary theremin, created back in 1919. Electronic synthesizers can imitate the sound of any instrument and even... play themselves. If, of course, someone draws up a program. :)
Dividing instruments into these groups is just one way of classification. There are many others: for example, the Chinese grouped tools depending on the material from which they were made: wood, metal, silk and even stone... The methods of classification are not so important. It is much more important to be able to recognize tools and appearance, and by sound. This is what we will learn.
Music and various sounds accompany a person throughout his life. We are surrounded by the sounds of the forest, birdsong, the sound of the sea and, of course, music. She is always with us, in times of joy and in moments of sadness, in sadness and in joy, night and day. To extract sounds, man invented different kinds musical instruments. Currently, there are musical instruments that are divided into several groups:
- strings;
- winds;
- drums.
The emergence of musical instruments
It is difficult now to find out how and when the first musical instrument appeared. Legend has it that the shepherd's pipe was first invented by the Greek gods. Music accompanied and primitive people: They danced, clapped and drummed. The conclusion suggests itself that the first musical devices were percussion musical instruments.
Much later people learned to do wind instruments from animal horns. Extract gentle sounds man learned after the invention of bowed instruments.
Types of musical instruments are divided into different classes and families depending on:
- sound source;
- material of manufacture;
- timbre and type of sound;
- way of producing sounds.
Each musical instrument has its own device in order to obtain the necessary sound. This is how the classification of musical instruments appeared. The list is constantly growing, electronic musical instruments have appeared. But live music, still out of competition.
In fact, every body, if set in motion or vibration, can produce sound. This kind of sound source is used for classification.
Groups of instruments, depending on the method of producing sound, are divided into subgroups.
Percussion instruments
Percussion musical instruments appeared at a time when people were hunting. Percussion musical instruments were invented, the names of which are known to everyone: drums and tambourines. They were made from dried skins and hollow objects: fruits, wooden blocks, clay pots. To produce sound, they beat percussion instruments with fingers, palms or special sticks. That is, percussion musical instruments are instruments in which sounds are produced using blows, shaking, hammers, sticks or palms.
Today, drums are the largest family of musical instruments. Based on their pitch, they are divided into two groups:
- indefinite pitch - drums, there - there, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, castanets;
- a certain pitch - bells, timpani, vibraphone, xylophone.
Wind instruments
Wind musical instruments are a type of instrument in which sound arises from the vibration of air in a tube. They are classified according to manufacturer, material and methods of sound production. This category can be divided into:
- wooden – flute, fanot, oboe;
- brass - trombone, trumpet, tuba, horn.
Stringed instruments
Stringed musical instruments are a group of instruments in which the source of sound is the vibration of strings. String instruments are divided into:
- plucked strings – gusli, guitar, dombra, balalaika, dombra, sitar, harp;
- bowed instruments - violin, viola, cello, double bass;
- drums - piano, dulcimer,
At the beginning of the 20th century, electric musical instruments appeared. The first such tool is theremin, was invented back in 1917. Today, numerous modern sound synthesizers have been created that can imitate not only the sound of many famous musical instruments, but also reproduce all kinds of sounds - thunder, birdsong, the sound of an airplane or a passing train. As a rule, synthesizers are produced with a piano keyboard.
Video: Gordon Hunt, Saint-Saëns Oboe Sonata
Orchestra – a large group of musical instruments performing works specially designed for this composition.
Depending on the composition, orchestras have different expressive, timbre and dynamic capabilities and have different names:
- Symphony Orchestra(big and small),
- chamber, orchestra folk instruments,
- wind,
- pop,
- jazz.
In a modern symphony orchestra, instruments are divided into the following groups:
I. Bowed strings: violins, violas, cellos, double basses.
II. Woodwinds: flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons.
III. Brass: horns, trumpets, trombones, tubas.
IV. Drums:
A) noise: castanets, rattles, maracas, whip, tom-tom, drums (large and small). Their parts are written on the same sheet music – “thread”.
b) with a certain pitch: timpani, cymbals, triangle, bell, xylophone, vibraphone, celesta.
V. Keyboards: piano, organ, harpsichord, clavichord.
VI. Additional group: harp.
The full sound of an orchestra is called “ tutti " - ("All").
Conductor - (from French - “to manage, lead”) manages a group of musicians - performers, he owns the artistic interpretation of the work.
On the console in front of the conductor lies - score (full musical notation of all parts of orchestral instruments).
The instrument parts of each group are recorded one after the other, starting with the highest sounding instruments and ending with the lowest.
Arrangement orchestral music for a piano performer is called clavier .
Characteristics of symphony orchestra groups
I. String-bowed
These are instruments that are similar in appearance and sound color (timbre). In addition, their sound is produced with a bow. Hence the name. The most virtuosic and expressive instrument of this group is violin
. It sounds like a singer's voice. It has a gentle, singing timbre. The violin is usually assigned the main melody of the piece. The orchestra has I and II violins. They play different parts.
Alto
looks like a violin, but is not much larger in size and has a more muffled, matte sound/
Cello
can be called a “big violin”. This instrument is not carried on the shoulder like a violin or viola, but rests on a stand that touches the floor. The sound of the cello is low, but at the same time soft, velvety, noble.
Most big tool this group - double bass
. They play on it while sitting because it is taller than a person. This instrument is rarely used as a solo instrument. Its sound is the lowest, buzzing in this group.
The string and bow group in the orchestra is the leading group in the orchestra. It has enormous timbre and technical capabilities.
II. Woodwinds
Wood is used to make wooden instruments. They are called wind instruments because they produce sound by blowing air into the instrument.
Flute
(from Italian it means “wind, blow”). The sound of the flute is transparent, ringing, cold.
It has a melodious, rich, warm, but somewhat nasal sound. oboe.
Has a varied timbre clarinet.
This quality allows him to perform dramatic, lyrical, scherzo paintings
Performs the bass line bassoon
- an instrument with a thick, slightly hoarse timbre.
The lowest bassoon has a name contrabassoon
.
A group of woodwind instruments is widely used for sketching pictures of nature and lyrical episodes.
III. Brass
Copper metals (copper, brass, etc.) are used to make brass instruments.
The entire group of brass instruments sounds powerfully and solemnly, brilliantly and brightly in the orchestra.
Has a sonorous “voice” pipe
. The loud sound of the trumpet can be heard even when the entire orchestra is playing. Often the trumpet has a lead part.
French horn
(“forest horn”)
may sound in pastoral music.
At the moment of highest tension in a musical work, especially of a dramatic nature, along with trumpets, trombones.
The lowest brass instrument in the orchestra is tuba.
It is often played in combination with other instruments.
Percussion Problem– enhance the sonority of the orchestra, make it more colorful, show the expressiveness and variety of rhythm.
This is a large, motley and diverse group united by general method sound extraction - blow. That is, by their nature they are not melodic. Their main purpose is to emphasize the rhythm, enhance the overall sonority of the orchestra and complement and decorate it with various effects. The only permanent members of the orchestra are the timpani. Beginning in the 19th century, the strike force began to expand rapidly. Big and snare drums, cymbals and triangles, and then tambourine, tom-tom, bells and bells, xylophone and celesta, vibraphone. But these instruments were used only sporadically.
A characteristic feature of a number of instruments is the presence of white and black keys, which are collectively called a keyboard or, in an organ, a manual.
Basic keyboard instruments: organ
(relatives - portable
, positive
),
clavichord
(related – spinet
in Italy and virginal
in England), harpsichord, piano
(varieties – piano
And piano
).
Based on the sound source, keyboard instruments are divided into two groups. The first group includes instruments with strings, the second includes organ-type instruments. Instead of strings, they have pipes of various shapes.
Piano
is an instrument in which both loud (forte) and quiet (piano) sounds were produced with the help of hammers. Hence the name of the instrument.
Timbre harpsichord
- silvery, sound - quiet, of equal strength.
Organ –
the largest musical instrument. They play it, like a piano, by pressing the keys. In ancient times, the entire front part of the organ was decorated with fine artistic carvings. Behind him are thousands of pipes of various shapes, each with its own special timbre. Consequently, the organ produces both the highest and lowest sounds that the human ear can perceive.
VI. A frequent participant in the symphony orchestra is plucked string tool – harp , which is a gilded frame with with stretched strings. The harp has a delicate, transparent timbre. Its sound creates a magical flavor.
Timbre characteristics of instruments
Types of orchestras
Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments
The composition of such an orchestra includes the main groups:
- Plucked strings:
- domras, balalaikas, gusli
- Brass:
- flute, pity, Vladimir horns
- Pneumatic reed:
- button accordions, harmonicas
- tambourines and drums
- Additional tools:
- flute, oboe and their varieties
Orchestra of Belarusian Folk Instruments
Approximate composition:
- Stringed instruments:
- gusli, violin, bassetla
- Wind instruments:
- Pipe, pity, pipe, pipe, horn
- tambourines and cymbals
- Accordion
– (or multi-timbre, ready-chosen button accordion) is a reed, pneumatic (“air”) keyboard instrument. It got its name from the name Drene - Russian legendary singer- the storyteller Bayan. This instrument has buttons on both sides, on which the performer plays the melody on the right side, and accompaniment on the left.
In modern concert performance, button accordions are most widespread. The left keyboard has special timbre register switches that make it possible to change the timbre of the instrument and change the color of the sound.
There are also electronic button accordions, which have unlimited sound power and a very large number of timbre colors. - Balalaika - a relative of the lute, mandolin, guitar. Musical symbol of the Russian people. This is a plucked string instrument. It has a wooden triangular body and a long neck on which strings are pulled. Sound is produced by striking index finger on all strings at once or by plucking. There are several types of balalaikas: piccolo, prima, second, alto, bass and double bass.
- Harmonic
(accordion, accordion) is a wind musical instrument that has become widespread in many countries.
It is equipped with bellows and a push-button keyboard. Feature instrument: the ability to change the pitch of the sound by changing the tension of the movement of the bellows.
Another type of harmonic is accordion . On one side of the accordion there are keys, like a piano, on which a melody is played, on the other there are several rows of buttons for accompaniment. When you press several of them, an entire chord sounds. Hence the name accordion. - Domra - a bit like a balalaika, only its body is oval, pear-shaped, and the strings are tuned to fourths.
- Cymbals - a stringed percussion instrument, is a low trapezoid-shaped box or wooden frame over which strings are stretched. The instrument is played using sticks or hammers. The gentle sound of the cymbals is reminiscent in timbre of the sound of the gusli.
- Guitar - one of the few musical instruments on which the sound is prepared and produced with the fingers.
- Gusli - an ancient Russian plucked string instrument.
Brass band
A brass band is a group of musicians playing various wind and percussion instruments.
According to their composition, the instruments of a modern brass band are divided into small brass orchestra, small mixed, medium mixed and large mixed.
The core of the small brass orchestra consists of: cornets, altos, tenors, baritones, basses.
With the addition of woodwinds (flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons), as well as trumpets, horns, trombones and percussion instruments to this group, small mixed, medium, large mixed compositions are formed.
Variety orchestra
This orchestra includes traditional groups of instruments of a symphony orchestra - woodwinds - horns and strings (violin, viola, cellos).
Jazz orchestra (jazz band)
This orchestra consists of trumpets, clarinets, trombones and a “rhythm section” (banjo, guitar, double bass, drums and piano).
Materials used in the work:
1. Z. Osovitskaya, A. Kazarinova In the world of music. First year of study. M., “Music”, 1996.
2. M. Shonikova Musical literature. Rostov-on-Don, 2003.
3. Y. Ostrovskaya, L. Frolova Musical literature in definitions and musical examples. St. Petersburg, 2004.
4. M.F. Musical Kingdom. Minsk, 2002.
Music comes into our lives at an early age. Almost everyone had musical toys, a metallophone or a wooden pipe. After all, it is also possible to play elementary compositions on them.
And it is from childhood that we take the first steps towards truly real music. Currently there are many special places for kids, where they are provided with such “childish” tools and given free rein to their imagination. In such music classes, children can even create their own symphony orchestra, no matter how strange it may sound. This is what it is initial stage, opening the whole fantasy world music.
You can select and purchase instruments in the MusicMarket.by online store on its official website https://musicmarket.by/. Available for sale different types instruments: percussion, wind, folk, studio and sound equipment, bowed, keyboard instruments and others.
Wind instruments
The principle of their operation is that the air vibrates inside the tube, after which a sound is produced.
There are also two subgroups of wind instruments: wooden tools and copper. The first can be attributed. for example, oboe, flute and clarinet. They are a tube with holes on one side. Using the holes, the musician regulates the volume of air inside, which changes the sound.
Brass instruments include trumpet, trombone, and saxophone. These wind instruments are used when playing in orchestras. The sound they make primarily depends on the force of the air blown and the musician's lips. In order to receive large quantity tones, special valves are provided, the operating principle of which is similar to that of woodwind instruments.
Stringed instruments
The sound of stringed instruments depends on the vibration of the strings, the prototype of which was the stretched bow string. Depending on the method of playing, the group of instruments is divided into bowed (violin, cello, viola) and plucked (guitar, lute, balalaika).
Keyboard instruments
One of the first keyboard instruments clavichords and harpsichords are considered. But the piano was created only in the 18th century. Its name literally stands for loud-quiet.
This group includes an organ, which is separated into a separate subgroup of keyboard and wind instruments. The air flow in it is created by a blower machine, and control is carried out using a special control panel.
Percussion instruments
The sound of this group is created by striking the tensioned membrane of the instrument or the body of the instrument itself. There is also a special subset of percussion instruments that produce sound at a specific pitch, such as timpani, bells, and xylophones.
Reed instruments
Instruments of this group are made in such a way that one side is made of solid material, and the other is in free vibration. Such instruments include jew's harps and accordions.
Many musical instruments can belong to several groups, for example, button accordion, clarinet.
Electronic instruments
Music on such instruments is created using electronic systems, for which specialized programs are created.
The division of musical instruments into these groups is quite arbitrary. It is more important to distinguish them by appearance.
Welcome to short review musical instruments of a symphony orchestra.
If you are just starting to get acquainted with classical music, then perhaps you do not yet know what musical instruments the members of the symphony orchestra play. This article will help you. Descriptions, images and sound samples of the main musical instruments of the orchestra will introduce you to the huge variety of sounds produced by the orchestra.
Preface
The musical symphonic tale "Peter and the Wolf" was written in 1936 for the new Moscow Central children's theater(now Russian Academic youth theater). This is the story of the pioneer Pete, who shows courage and ingenuity, saves his friends and captures the wolf. From the moment of its creation to the present day, the play has enjoyed undiminished worldwide popularity among both younger generation, and experienced amateurs classical music. This play will help us identify different instruments, because... each character in it is represented by a certain instrument and a separate motive: for example, Petya - string instruments (mainly violins), Birdie - flute in a high register, Duck - oboe, Grandfather - bassoon, Cat - clarinet, Wolf - horn. After familiarizing yourself with the presented instruments, listen to this piece again and try to remember how each instrument sounds.
Sergei Prokofiev: "Peter and the Wolf"
Bowed string instruments.
All bowed string instruments consist of vibrating strings stretched over a resonating wooden body (soundboard). To produce sound, a horsehair bow is used, clamping the strings various positions on the fretboard, producing sounds of different pitches. The family of bowed string instruments is the largest in the lineup, grouped into a huge section with musicians playing the same line of music.
4-string bowed instrument, the highest in sound in its family and the most important in the orchestra. The violin has such a combination of beauty and expressiveness of sound as, perhaps, no other instrument. But violinists often have a reputation as nervous and scandalous people.
Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Alto - in appearance it is a copy of a violin, only slightly larger, which is why it sounds in a lower register and is a little more difficult to play than a violin. According to established tradition, the viola is assigned an auxiliary role in the orchestra. Violists are often the target of jokes and anecdotes in musical environment. There were three sons in the family - two smart, and the third was a violist... P.S. Some people believe that the viola is an improved version of the violin.
Robert Schumann" Fairy tale(Fairy Tales) for viola and piano"
Cello- a large violin that is played while sitting, holding the instrument between the knees and resting its spire on the floor. The cello has a rich low sound, wide expressive abilities and a detailed performance technique. The performing qualities of the cello won the hearts of a huge number of fans.
Dmitri Shostakovich Sonata for cello and piano
Double bass- the lowest in sound and the largest in size (up to 2 meters) among the family of bowed string instruments. Double bassists must stand or sit on a high stool to reach the top of the instrument. The double bass has a thick, hoarse and somewhat dull timbre and is the bass foundation of the entire orchestra.
Dmitri Shostakovich Sonata for cello and piano (see cello)
Woodwind instruments.
A large family of various instruments, not necessarily made of wood. Sound is generated by the vibration of air passing through the instrument. Pressing the keys shortens/lengthens the air column and changes the pitch of the sound. Each instrument usually has its own solo line, although it can be performed by several musicians.
The main instruments of the woodwind family.
- modern flutes very rarely they are made of wood, more often of metal (including precious metals), sometimes of plastic and glass. The flute is held horizontally. The flute is one of the highest sounding instruments in the orchestra. The most virtuoso and technically agile instrument in the wind family, thanks to these advantages she is often assigned orchestral solos.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Flute Concerto No. 1
Oboe- a melodic instrument with a range lower than that of a flute. Slightly conical in shape, the oboe has a melodious, but somewhat nasal timbre, and even sharp in the upper register. It is primarily used as an orchestral solo instrument. Because oboists must contort their faces while playing, they are sometimes perceived as abnormal people.
Vincenzo Bellini Concerto for oboe and orchestra
Clarinet- Comes in several sizes, depending on the required pitch. The clarinet uses only one reed (reed), and not double like a flute or bassoon. The clarinet has a wide range, warm, soft timbre and provides the performer with wide expressive possibilities.
Check yourself: Karl stole corals from Clara, and Clara stole a clarinet from Karl.
Carl Maria von Weber Clarinet Concerto No. 1
The lowest sounding woodwind instrument, used both for the bass line and as an alternative melody instrument. There are usually three or four bassoons in an orchestra. Due to its size, the bassoon is more difficult to play than other instruments in this family.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Bassoon Concerto
Brass instruments.
The loudest group of instruments in a symphony orchestra, the principle of producing sounds is the same as that of woodwind instruments - “press and blow”. Each instrument plays its own solo line - there is a lot of material. IN different eras Throughout its history, the symphony orchestra changed groups of instruments in its composition; a certain decline in interest in wind instruments occurred in the era of romanticism; in the 20th century, new performing possibilities for brass instruments opened up and their repertoire expanded significantly.
Horn (horn)- originally derived from the hunting horn, the horn can be soft and expressive or harsh and raspy. Typically, an orchestra uses from 2 to 8 horns, depending on the piece.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade
An instrument with a high clear sound, very suitable for fanfares. Like the clarinet, the trumpet can come in different sizes, each with its own timbre. Distinguished by its great technical agility, the trumpet brilliantly fulfills its role in the orchestra; it can perform wide, bright timbres and long melodic phrases.
Joseph Haydn Concerto for trumpet
Performs more of a bass line than a melodic line. It differs from other brass instruments by the presence of a special movable U-shaped tube - a backstage, by moving which back and forth the musician changes the sound of the instrument.
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Trombone Concerto
Percussion musical instruments.
The oldest and most numerous among groups of musical instruments. Often the drums are affectionately called the “kitchen” of the orchestra, and the performers are called “jack of all trades.” The musicians treat percussion instruments quite harshly: they hit them with sticks, hit each other, shake them - and all this in order to set the rhythm of the orchestra, as well as to give color and originality to the music. Sometimes a car horn or a device that imitates wind noise (aeoliphone) is added to the drums. Let's consider only two percussion instrument:
- hemispherical metal body, covered with a leather membrane, timpani can sound very loudly or, conversely, softly, like a distant clap of thunder, for extraction different sounds sticks with heads made of different materials: wood, felt, leather. An orchestra usually has two to five timpani players, and it is very interesting to watch the timpani players play.
Johann Sabastian Bach Toccata and Fugue
Plates (pairs)- convex round metal discs different sizes and with an indefinite pitch. As noted, a symphony can last ninety minutes, and you only have to hit the cymbals once; imagine the responsibility for the exact result.
