Percussion

Percussion

Sound is produced on these instruments when a physical strike is delivered to the object. Sometimes a stick or mallet is used (drums, timpani, or xylophone); shaken (tambourine); snapped(castanets); struck against itself (cymbals); or rattled (sleigh bells). Percussionists are required to make large physical movements to operate the devices, this also lends an aura of fascination as well as authority to their acts. [AW] {NR}