The Classroom Resource afefEggs-- Percussion Section The Percussion Section Where did the percussion section Repertoire that come from? features the Percussion instruments are as old as mankind itself and were often used in ancient percussion section times in sacred and ceremonial functions. The percussion section of the orchestra There are a number of pieces of classical music has its roots in military service (along with brass instruments like the trumpet). that feature percussion as a solo instrument, Military timpani have been used for hundreds of years but they were added to the including Bartok’s famous Concerto for Strings, orchestra the 16th century. Classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven Percussion and Celeste. Modern composers made regular use of timpani, and occasionally added extra ‘un-pitched’ percussion have writen percussion concertos to be played instruments like the bass drum to achieve special effects. It wasn’t until composers by superstar percussionists such as Evelyn like Berlioz began to understand the potential of the percussion family that the Glennie and Colin Currie like James MacMillan – percussion section really came into its own. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel which Colin Currie Modern orchestras have to own an ever expanding collection of percussion performed with the NZSO in 2010. There is instruments as composers also huge catalogue of music for percussion experiment with differ sounds, ensembles of varying shapes and sizes. One of which are often inspired by music the great things about the percussion section is from around the world. Modern that it can play music of any style! percussionists therefore have to be extremely skilled and very versatile, the can be require to What is a drumhead? playe everything from the snare One section of the percussion family is the drum, drum to the typewriter! which includes instruments like the timpani, snare drum and bass drum. All of these instruments are played by striking a drumhead with a stick (also called a beater or a mallet). The drumhead is a membrane (a very thin piece of material) stretched over the open end of a drum. When it is struck, the drumhead vibrates and these vibrations resonate through the drum, producing the sound of the instrument. Drumheads are made out of animal skin (either calfskin or goatskin) or plastic.

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NZSO Music for Schools - Rachel Hyde ©2011 nzso.co.nz/education