——Symphony Knowledge No. 19

Lao Hou

"Bolairo Dance", performed by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.

Please watch the video above. From the beginning of the section, the snare drum accompanies the melody throughout. The familiar drum beats and magical rhythm will bring you into a dreamy state. Without the snare drum, the music would have a different flavor.

In the symphony orchestra, the most interesting and versatile instrument is probably the percussion instrument.

Among the various parts of the symphony orchestra, the percussion group belongs to the color-type instrument group. The percussion section has been likened to a "magic kitchen". The various percussion instruments are like various seasonings that stimulate the taste buds, "adding fuel and vinegar" to the melody of the entire piece. A feast that brings people a full-flavored auditory enjoyment.

A day in the life of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s percussion section.

Opening a score of modern symphonic music works, a large number of exotic names pop up on the page: bongo drums, conga drums, maracas, cymbals, marimba, xylophone, thumb piano and Cajon and more. They are often used in modern music to enhance color.

Percussion instruments produce sound effects by tapping, scraping, shaking, rubbing and other actions.

According to the way the sound is made, people divide it into two categories:

One type is the membrane-sounding instrument, which makes sound by hitting the membrane covering the instrument. Demonstration: timpani, snare drum, bass drum, conga drum, bongo drum and tambourine;

One type is the self-sounding instrument, which can produce sound by striking the instrument itself. Demonstration: celesta, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, tubular bells, wooden fish, triangle, cymbals, dulcimer, cymbals, gongs, chimes, bells.

Generally speaking, percussion instruments are divided into two types: fixed pitch and non-fixed pitch.

Fixed pitch, such as timpani, xylophone and celesta. Those with no fixed pitch, such as snare drum, bass drum, triangle, etc.

Gongs are divided into two types: those with fixed pitch and those without fixed pitch. Western gongs generally do not have fixed pitch.

In addition to the marimba, xylophone and harp, the percussion group also includes other instruments such as gongs and timpani, which are basically fixed-pitched, with fixed pitches, and the performance is mainly based on rhythm, so It is said to be a color instrument.

With the diversification of music, the rich rhythmic nature of percussion instruments has been reflected. The role of timpani and snare drum has become more and more important. They can drive the rhythm of the entire band. Timpani has many applications. It is mainly used to enhance the momentum of the music, followed by snare drum, big snare drum, cymbals, xylophone, etc. Therefore, the timpani is the chief.

For different instruments, players have to use different percussion tools, and most importantly, they have to face different music scores and control multiple instruments at the same time. One person is capable of many things.

Texas band musicians demonstrate their control of various percussion instruments.

Percussion seems simple. In addition to being multi-talented, it also requires a high degree of concentration. You start playing from the first bar, although there are usually breaks for more than ten bars or more. section. But the whole performance requires full concentration. When playing some fast passages, you may need to memorize music, such as playing tubular bells, xylophone or marimba.

The melody of the symphony is generally completed by strings and wind instruments, with percussion instruments as auxiliary, but this does not mean that percussion instruments cannot complete the performance of the melody. Marimba, xylophone, and harp can play the melody.

The Birmingham Orchestra plays the theme music of "Spider-Man".

Some pieces of music are specially written for percussion. Percussion is the protagonist, and string instruments and wind instruments become the accompaniment. The musicians fully demonstrate their percussion skills, skillfully control various instruments, and fully demonstrate their voice characteristics. .

Of course, the main function of percussion is the most striking beat in the entire melody, which plays the role of emotional rendering and enhancement.

Concerto for Timpani and Oboe.

In the section of the Violin Concerto "Butterfly Lovers", the tomb opens and Zhu Yingtai jumps in. If there is no big gong sound at this time, you will not feel that emotion. of eruption.

What’s interesting is that gongs don’t just appear in Chinese symphonies. They are actually standard equipment in Western symphony orchestras, and they are the only musical instrument from China in symphony orchestras. Those who are interested will notice that it appears in Puccini's opera "Turandot".

Before Puccini composed "Turandot", Baron Fassini Camossi, a former Italian diplomat in China, gave him a music box with Chinese music melodies as a gift, including "Jasmine". Puccini used three of these melodies, including the chorus when Emperor Artum appears and the children's chorus "Jasmine" when praying to the moon. And "Jasmine" has also become the main theme when Princess Turandot appears.

Puccini also specially ordered a set of 13 gongs for this opera.

Modern symphonies continue to incorporate music styles from other countries and regions, and percussion instruments have also begun to be used as melody instruments. Modern orchestras have added many percussion instruments with strange timbres from African and Asian music, and the timbres of symphonies are becoming more and more rich.