Drums That Beat In Peace And War

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

Drums That Beat In Peace And War

P!OM far distant ages comes the echoing roll of drums that rises and swells to a mighty crescendo in our times. For ever and always shajl ipan's blood fee stjrrgd by the mi|sjc of drums. They were as popular jn ancient times as noyr. Thp' Egyptians, Assyrians, Indians ajpd Persians had them in various forms and sizes. * ' -■" • Drums are percussion instruments. Their pounds are produced by striking either with tfye hand 1 or with a drumstick. They are hollow vessels, mostly cylindrical in shape, with a membrane stretche<| pvej- onp or both ends. They ace divided ii|to two classes, those which have definite musical pitch and cap take part in the harmony pf an prpjipstra and those <>f indefinite pitch. Kettledrums, tympani, are included ill orchestras.' The instr Ull )£i)t consists pf a luenibianc stretched over a semirsplierical vessel of copper. A kettlednipi, ljke a bell, can gj v « only one sound, sp ip prder to get higher or loner notes, an orchestra ipav have several drums of different sizes. Another way of getting variation in Biteh Is ta alter the tension pf the membrane by means pf screws. Modern jazz bands often have a much more elaborate array of than classical orchestra In military bands drums have a most important p&rt. They are of indefinite pitch and are used

for making rhythm? To tjie looker it may seeip an easy thing to beat a drum, i|t>ut tk e 4 rl W m « r must be a good mpsieiari and have a perfect sense of time, The basfj drum gives a deep rqljiijg note and the player must use a gentle swing stroke and strike oh the proper part of the drumhead. Tlie side or snare drum is a much smaller and even more useful instrument beoatjse apart from niarking rhythm it adds crispness to band music. Played alone it makes an excellent march: ing accompaniment. Its, peculiar "rattle" js due to the ''snares,*' a set of strings, which are laid qn the under surface Pf The top pr beating head is qtfled the "batterhead." The sijje-drpfn-mer, like the must acquire great suppleness of wrist to be able to handle his instrument successfully, Druifis in different forms ftrp found fill over the world. They are especially popular among the tribes pf Africa, who have worked out a system of communicating bv means of drum sounds. One drummer can relay a message to . another utiles away. This mean#

The Music Of Primitive Orchestras,

of long-distance communication aeridg pews through the African wiklp fit a speed that baffled, early traypljers. Some of the drums gpude affairs, roughly hollowed sections of tree trunks, and are beaten with sticks having rounded krjph heads. Till recent years mai|y a wild tribe h#£ assembled for battle at the insistent pall of tjie "tofn-tom." Throughput the East, too, drums are popular instruments. They provide accompaniment for the native dancing girls, Another percussion instfuipent of Eastern origin the gong. r Tambourines are loved by the ipupiipl people of Spain, They are really drump in fnii}iature. TJiey pre sipall hpopp with parchment stre]tphe<l over one end only and have small pieces of metal, called jingles, inserted round the }wm The rattle of the Umtiie clitk of the castanets and the high notes of the fiddle interpret tiig gaiety of Spain'? national dances. A very interesting drum is that used by many people* of the Pacific. It is Bft long, a hoJlpwe4 tree trvnfc/ *B4 rt*

semblas a large trough with curved sides. The players beat ujjon the inner and outer surface! with their hands and are able to produce a surprising volume of sounds varying from a sharp staccato rattle to a deep sonoroot rujnble. A dulcimer is one of the oldert percussion instruments. It ig mentioned in the Biible and other ancient writings. In its modern forrp it is a shallow quadrilateral box without a top, across which run a series of wires tuned by pegs at the side. The player strikes these with two cqrk-headed hammers. There are in various parts of Africa gourd pianos, played in the same way as dulcimers. The of Liberia have a distinct type. Before they acquired their band pf buglep and drums, the native police of Fort Jameson, Northern had such an instrument, a contrivance of round gourds for sound boxes and small wooden slats for a keyboard. Other percussion instruments are cymbals, triangles and bells. Ingenious musicians can make beautiful music from drinking glasses carefully according to pitch. The Oldest and most primitive of percussion music is hand clapping. The rhythmical beating of hands still • the measure of many a native dance and adds volume to inany a primitive orchestra.