Percussion
Percussion instruments probably are the oldest
of
all
musical instruments;
they are found in all cultures. They consist of membranophones, the entire
family of DRUMS that are sounded by striking or rubbing a stretched skin;
and idiophones, made of such material as wood, metal, or bone, and
including bells, gongs, triangles, marimbas, and wood blocks. Both types
of instruments include some of definite and some of indefinite pitch, the
idiophones having a greater number and variety of examples that produce
definite pitch. The uses of percussion instruments have been more varied
in non-Western cultures, where the tuned varieties (such as marimbas) have
been used to a great extent. The Javanese and Balinese Gamelan illustrates
the variety and subtlety of percussion instruments in tuned concert. The
functions of percussion instruments include signaling; accompaniment of
dancing or singing, especially in primitive cultures; and ensemble and
orchestral use. In Europe the percussion instruments were quite limited in
number until the 19th century, especially in concert music, where the
timpani (kettledrums) and a few other drums were used with the triangle
and cymbals. In the late 19th and 20th centuries the demand for a variety
of percussion instruments in the orchestra grew with the rise of program
music and impressionism; gongs, castanets, and all manner of tuned
percussion instruments emerged as standard instruments. The percussion
ensemble is a phenomenon of the 20th century. Percussion instruments are
essential to high school and college bands, drum and bugle corps, and
dance bands and rock groups. While solo percussion compositions are rare
in concert music, they are commonplace in the training literature for
young players.
Here are the Percussionists of WHS
Daniel Lyons
Ryan Sadowski
Clinton Watson
Kirk Swanner
ian Bird