Percussion InstrumentsHistory, Facts and interesting information about Medieval music, specifically, Percussion Instruments Definition of Percussion Instruments Definition of Percussion instruments: A family of instruments generally played by striking with hands, sticks, or mallets but occasionally played by being shaken. Often made of wood with a skin stretched over one side of it. Origin of the word Percussion The word is taken from the act of percussing, or striking one body against another, a forcible collision especially such as gives a sound or report. Drum - Percussion Instrument Types of Percussion Instruments There were many types of Percussion Instruments played during the Medieval times including the instruments detailed in the following list: - The Drum - Drums were made initially from a hollow tree trunk, clay or metal and covered by skins of water animals - also called tambours
- Cymbals - Thin round concave metal plates
- The Triangle - The triangle was a musical instrument introduced during the 14th century
- The Tambourine - This musical instrument was traditionally used by a woman
- The Tabor - a small drum used as an accompaniment to a pipe or fife, both being played by the same person.
- Timbrel - This musical instrument was also referred to as a tambourine and dates back to antiquity
- Bells - the use of Bells also dates back to antiquity
Medieval Music - Percussion Instruments Medieval Musical instruments would be used by the musicians of the period including the Waits, Minstrels or Troubadours. There were three categories of musical instruments in the Middle Ages - Percussion, string and percussion. Haut referred to loud instruments (literally "high" but referring to volume, not to pitch) which were suitable for outdoors. This type of instrument included many Percussion Instruments including the drums and cymbals. Many of the Medieval musical instruments were the forerunners to our modern musical instruments. The Waits Medieval Music - Percussion Instruments The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about the musicians and styles of music which scatter the history books including Percussion Instruments. The Medieval Life and Times Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts about the fascinating subject of the lives of the people who lived during the historical period of the Middle Ages. The content of this article on Percussion Instruments provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework. |