Overview

Percussion instruments are played by striking, shaking, or scraping them to produce sound, and they form a vital part of the modern orchestra. From timpani drums that provide powerful bass notes to delicate triangles that add sparkle, percussion instruments create rhythm, texture, and dramatic effects that shape the overall sound of orchestral music.

Key Points

• Percussion instruments are divided into pitched instruments (like timpani and xylophone) that can play specific notes and unpitched instruments (like cymbals and bass drum) that produce sound without definite pitch
• The timpani, or kettle drums, are the most important pitched percussion instruments in the orchestra and are played with mallets to create deep, resonant tones
• Unpitched percussion instruments such as snare drums, cymbals, triangles, and gongs add rhythm, texture, and dramatic emphasis to orchestral music
• Percussion players must master different striking techniques and mallet types to produce varied tones and dynamics across their instruments
• Modern orchestras often include keyboard percussion instruments like vibraphones and marimbas that allow percussionists to play melodies and chords

Why This Matters

Percussion instruments are essential to orchestral music, providing the rhythmic foundation and dramatic impact that bring compositions to life. Understanding percussion helps listeners appreciate how composers use different timbres and effects to create emotion and excitement in classical music.

Suggested Next Steps

• Instruments of the Orchestra - Strings
• Instruments of the Orchestra - Woodwinds
• How Orchestras are Organized

Sources

• The Oxford Companion to Music
• Instruments of the Orchestra by Yehudi Menuhin