| Drum is a pulsating musical instrument, a membranophone. It consists of a hollow wooden (or metal) cylindrical case-resonator or a frame on which from one or two sides leather membranes are tightened (the relative height of a sound can be regulated by their tension). The sound is extracted by striking on a membrane with a soft tip wooden beater, or a stick, or hands, and sometimes by friction.
History
It was known about the existence of drums in about 3000 years BC.
At an excavation in Mesopotamia, one of the most ancient percussion instruments were made in the form of small cylinders belonging to the third millennium B.C. was found. Since the most ancient times the drum was used as a signaling tool, and also for supporting ritual dances, military processions and religious ceremonies. Drums had reached modern Europe from the Middle East. The prototype of a small (military) drum had been borrowed from the Arabs in Spain and Palestine. The long history of development of the drum today is testified by its large variety. Drums of various forms (even in the form of a sand-glass - Bata) and the sizes (up to
2 meters in diameter) are known. There are bronze, wooden drums (without membranes); and so-called slot-hole drums (they belong to the class of idiophones).
Types of drums
Big drum (bass drum) - two-sided and rarer is the one-sided. It is played with a massive beater with a soft tip; its sound is strong, hollow and low. Except for a beater sometimes used are sticks, whisks etc. The main purpose of the big drum is single touches (from pianissimo to similar to that of the thunderous categories like fortissimo). The big drum at first was used by the European composers in a military orchestra; and from the beginning of the 18th century started appearing in opera. The predecessor of the big bass drum was used in janissary music. The big drum is often used for its imitation.
The small drum with two leather membranes is angled on the low cylinder. Along the lower membrane strings are aligned (4-10 in concert and to 18 - in a jazz drum) which give a dry rolling sound and a rolling-jingling tone. When the strings are switched-off with a special lever this characteristic rattle disappears. It is played with two wooden sticks thickened at the ends. In jazz, touches on the rim, play with the fingers and palms of both hands are applied too. A set of small drums of various sizes is used, while playing it is put on supports (in a wind band (on a march) - carried on a belt at waist level). The small drum was introduced into the opera and symphonic orchestras in the 19th century; it is often used in military scenes. Today it is the leading tool of the rhythmic band of jazz.
The pioneer drum is similar to it, but even smaller in size.
The bass drum is little bit smaller in size than the big (concert) drum - 20-22 "(50-56 centimeters).
Tam-tams or tom-toms are African drums.
Manufacturers
Drums are basically made in Japan (Yamaha, Roland) and the USA (Alesis, Drum Workshop), plus a small number in Europe (Simmons) and Taiwan (Taye, WorlMax, Mapex).
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