Percussion Instruments Through the Ages

While the human voice was unquestionably the first musical instrument known to humanity, archaeologists and anthropologists agree that percussion instruments followed quickly on the heels of this discovery. Percussion was first made with feet and hands, followed by sticks, rocks and whatever else happened to be available. With the invention of tools for use in hunting and agriculture came more advanced drums, as the same cutting tools could be used to turn a hollow log into a slit drum for louder sounds and a set of logs to be cut into a primitive ancestor of the modern drum kit.

With time, percussion instruments became more complex. By the 10th century, the kalimba (aka the thumb piano) was in use in Africa. In the Americas, maracas and other percussion instruments were known at least three millennia ago; Australian and Micronesian seed rattles have been in use for thousands of years, as have chimes, gongs and xylophones in Asia. Percussion instruments were used as part of religious ceremonies, for practical communications and simply for enjoyment.

Percussion instruments that are displayed in orchestra first came from Asia Minor. In the 15th century, people began migrating east and brought with them numerous instruments. Our percussion instruments got their initial stages there, when the Crusades took back the drums that they found in the Middle East. From then on, evolution of percussion and drums kicked up a notch and assortments of percussion instruments came into being.

Percussion is categorized by a variety of criteria at times depending on their cultural origin, construction and function within musical orchestration. It is generally referred as ‘the hearbeat’ of a musical ensemble, often functioning close collaboration with bass instruments if present.

Bass and percussion form the rhythm section in most forms of popular music; this stands in contrast with the majority of orchestral and chamber music composed before the 20th century, where percussion instruments are for the most part confined to a supporting role. In modern works, however, percussion instruments are occasionally allowed to get their fair share of the listeners attention.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, more percussion instruments (like the cymbals or triangles) came to being and frequently, again moderately and cautiously played in general. The massive uses of percussion instruments become more recurrent in the 20th century, on classical music.

In almost all types of music, percussion plays a fundamental role. In a military parade, it is the strike of the bass drum that holds the soldiers in step and at a normal speed, and it is the snare that endows that crisp, vital air to the tune of a troop. In traditional jazz, one almost instantly thinks of the distinguishing rhythm of the hi-hats or the ride cymbal when the word “swing” is uttered. In more current popular music genres, it is almost impossible to name at least three or four rock, hip-hop, rap, funk, punk, techno, grunge, alternative and blues songs that don?t have some kind of percussive beat maintaining the tune in time.

Because of the mixture and wide assortments of percussive instruments, it is not unusual to find large musical gathering composed wholly of percussion. Rhythm, harmony and melody are all evident and alive in these musical factions, and in live performances they are quite a spectacle to see.