Project 3: Three of more instruments

PROJECT 3.1

I wanted this piece to have a war theme and I chose instruments that could reflect the sounds and feelings of the frontline of war.  The first instrument I chose was the snare drum.  The snares military background made it the perfect instrument to represent the sound of the troops approaching.  My other obvious choice was the cymbals to reflect the sound of bombing and gunfire.  I then chose to use both the tambourine and the triangle.  Both instrument have a metallic sound which I have used to signify the sound of bullets falling to the ground.  

I have tried to add sense of the impending doom by starting the piece slowly and building through, adding more intricacy to add the feeling of sensory overload.  At the end of the piece I have tried to mark the end of the war with the cymbal and snare sounding a final loud crash to mark the death of the troops, with the triangle and tambourine fade away behind, symbolising the end of gun fire.    

My piece can be found below along with my research of the cymbal.  Research of the other instruments can be found in earlier posts.

My research of the Cymbals

The cymbals are a percussion instrument made of two circular plates of metal which are struck together to create a ‘crash’ sound.  The cymbals are a very popular piece of percussion and are frequently used in a variety of genres. 

The History of the Cymbals

The history of the cymbals dates back to over 5000 years ago when the early civilizations discovered metal works.  The distinctive, loud and high-pitched sound created the perfect way for these early civilizations to communicate over long distances.  Later, in the 1300’s the Turkish military bands adopted the instrument to be part of Ottoman’s Janissary music.

Following their use in military bands, the cymbals made their way over to Europe to become commonplace in the western orchestra and opera.  In 1623, Avedis Zildjian, an alchemist living in Constantinople attempted to create gold using silver, copper and tin.  Unsurprisingly, this formula did not create gold, but did create a metal alloy which held unique sound qualities.  Today, it is still possible to buy Zildjian’s cymbals made with the original metal alloy. 

The Cymbals in Classical Music

The versatile sound of the cymbals offers the orchestra huge amount of colour and effect.   Its timbre allows it to be heard amongst a full orchestra and have often been used to symbolise frenzy or fury.  Wagner’s Tannauser, Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and Mozart’s Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail are all good examples of classical pieces including the drama and effect of the cymbals.   However, in contrast, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony sees the cymbals being played delicately and quietly to achieve the intended dynamic.

The Cymbals in Modern Music

Today, as well as remaining a regular member of the orchestra and many military bands, the cymbal is considered one of the most important parts of the modern drum kit. 

Usually, a full kit will include three sets of cymbals:

·       Crash Cymbal – used mainly for accents, the crash cymbals produce a loud, sharp ‘crash’ sound.

·       Ride Cymbal – maintains a steady rhythmic pattern (ride pattern) rather than accents with crashes etc.

·       Hi-Hat Cymbals  - a pair of cymbals mounted on a stand (one above the other) with a pedal that can be used to crash the cymbals together.

PROJECT 3.2

The inspiration for my second piece came from a documentary I was watching about the Amazon rainforest.  The vibrant, verbal and rhythmic nature of the insects and creatures found in these part shaped the principal ideas for this piece. 

Whilst my previous composition have mainly included exploring the rhythmic side of these instruments, I wanted this piece to explore the sounds and the thoughts and feeling invoked by them.  

The claves bright and sharp tones made for an excellent representation of the busy ants that roam the forest floor.  To simulate the busy nature of the ant I have use very simple short, sharp and fast burst.  When hearing the rainstick, one can't help but picture the image of a large snake, so I used a number of trills to symbolise the large creature, wrapped high up in the trees, stalking it's prey.  This part relied heavily on the use of dynamics to give the impression of the hiss being all around.  My third instrument was the cabasa that plays the role of the crickets.  The distinctive scrape of the Cabasa is reminiscent of the chorus of crickets when played within the piece.  I have used an erratic arrangement of short notes to ensure that the sound of the cabasa kept the sound of the crickets chorus.  The final instrument were the maracas played the part of an amazonian butterfly known to produce a clicking sound when in flight.  For the maracas I have use a variety of notes in a very fluid pattern to reflect the light and airy nature of the butterfly.  

My composition can be found below along with my research for the instruments that do not appear in earlier posts:

My research of the Maracas

The maracas are a percussion instrument, usually played in pairs, native to Latin America.  Usually the two separate pieces are pitched differently – one high and one low, to give a range of tones by shaking. 

The History of the Maracas

There is evidence of maracas being used dating all the way back to the Stone Age and before.  In Africa the maraca began as a rattle to accompany drums, whilst in South America they were used for music, ceremony and healing and their sound was thought to summon spirits.  There is artwork to show the use of the maracas by the native people of Venezuela, Paraguay, Brazil and Colombia.

Throughout history and cultures, the maracas have been made in a number of ways, utilising the materials available to the instrument makers.   In the South Pacific, people used plant pods or coconut shells, whereas in Africa and the American South West, the instrument would have been made using turtle shell. 

The Maracas in Latin American Music

The Maracas are a popular instrument in the music of Latin American.  The instrument is considered to be the most important in the Salsa and is seen through many other Latin American pieces.  Its Caribbean influence makes it the perfect instrument to fit with the fast tempo music of Latin America.

The Maracas in Modern Music

In modern times, the maraca is seen in most percussion groups, spanning a variety of genres.  In 1932, George Gershwin wrote the Cuban Overture which was one of the few western classical pieces to feature the maracas.   In 1952 Leonard Bernstein composed his Jeremiah Symphony in which the maracas were used as drumsticks.

My research of the Rainstick

The rainstick is a long hollow tube, filled with tiny pebbles or beads, with pins arranged on the inner surface.  When the rainstick is shaken or tilted, the beads hit the pins and produce the sound of rainfall. 

The History of the Rainstick

There are a number of theories based around the origin of the rainstick.  Some believe that it was invented by the Aztecs and was thought to bring about a downpour of rain when used in ceremonies.   However, no evidence of this has been seen in archaeological digs or through artwork, so it is more commonly believed to have been invented and used in Peru, dating back to the time of the Incas.  Evidence also points to Africa or Mexico being the birthplace of the rainstick.