Cymbal

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Cymbals
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This article is about the musical instrument. For other uses, see Cymbal (disambiguation).
Cymbals
Percussion
Classification Percussion
Hornbostel–Sachs classification111.142 if played in pairs, or 111.242 if played with a hand or beater
(Concussion or percussion vessels)
Developed7th century BCE
Related instruments
Crotales are sometimes called cymbales anciens
Builders
Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste, Meinl, Istanbul Agop
More articles or information
Clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, crash cymbal, ride cymbal, china cymbal, splash cymbal, sizzle cymbal, hi-hat, zill
Characteristic rock hi-hat pattern. playⓘ

A cymbal is a common

hi-hat
cymbals. A player of cymbals is known as a cymbalist.

A cymbalist using a cymbal as part of a larger musical arrangement.

Etymology and names

The word cymbal is derived from the

Ancient Greek κύμβη (kymbē) 'cup, bowl'.[3]

In orchestral scores, cymbals may be indicated by the French cymbales; German Becken, Schellbecken, Teller, or Tschinellen; Italian piatti or cinelli; and Spanish platillos.[4] Many of these derive from the word for plates.

History

Cymbals have existed since ancient times. Representations of cymbals may be found in reliefs and paintings from

China from Central Asia in the 3rd or 4th century AD.[4]

India

In India, cymbals have been in use since ancient times and are still used across almost all major temples and Buddhist sites. Gigantic aartis along the Ganges, which are revered by Hindus all over the world, are incomplete without large cymbals.[citation needed]

Central Asia and Iran

Mesopotamian cymbals from the 3rd millennium B.C. show that the large cymbal dates back into antiquity.

The Shahnameh (circa 977 and 1010 CE) mentions the use of cymbals at least 14 times in its text, most in the context of creating a loud din in war, to frighten the enemy or to celebrate. The Persian word is sanj or senj (سنج), but the Shahnameh does not claim these to be Persian in origin. Several times it calls then "Indian cymbals." Other adjectives to describe them include "golden" and "brass," and to play them is to "clash" them.[6]

A different form is called sanj angshati (سنج انگشتی), these are zill.

Ashura ceremony

Besides the original use in war, another use in Persian culture was the Ashura ceremony. Originally in the ceremony, two pieces of stone were beaten on the sides of the mourner with special movements accompanied by a lamentation song. This has been replaced by beating Karbzani or Karebzani and playing sanj and

Semnan and Sabzevar
.

Etymology

See Zang

All theories about the

Pahlavi word. By some accounts means weight; and it is possible that the original term was sanjkūb meaning ”striking weights” [against each other].[7] By some accounts the word is reform version of "Zang
" (bell), referring to its bell-shaped plate.

Turkey

Miniature from the Surname-i Vebbi (fol. 172a), showing cymbals being used in military setting by a Turkish army. Descriptions of this kind of use date as far back as the Shahnameh, circa 977-1010 A.D.[6]

Cymbals were employed by

janissaries in the 14th century or earlier. By the 17th century, such cymbals were used in European music, and more commonly played in military bands and orchestras by the mid 18th century. Since the 19th century, some composers have called for larger roles for cymbals in musical works, and a variety of cymbal shapes, techniques, and hardware have been developed in response.[4]

Anatomy

The anatomy of the cymbal plays a large part in the sound it creates.[8] A hole is drilled in the center of the cymbal, which is used to either mount the cymbal on a stand or for tying straps through (for hand playing). The bell, dome, or cup is the raised section immediately surrounding the hole. The bell produces a higher "pinging" pitch than the rest of the cymbal. The bow is the rest of the surface surrounding the bell. The bow is sometimes described in two areas: the ride and crash area. The ride area is the thicker section closer to the bell while the crash area is the thinner tapering section near the edge. The edge or rim is the immediate circumference of the cymbal.

Cymbals are measured by their diameter either in inches or centimeters. The size of the cymbal affects its sound, larger cymbals usually being louder and having longer

sustain
. The weight describes how thick the cymbal is. Cymbal weights are important to the sound they produce and how they play. Heavier cymbals have a louder volume, more cut, and better stick articulation (when using drum sticks). Thin cymbals have a fuller sound, lower pitch, and faster response.

The profile of the cymbal is the vertical distance of the bow from the bottom of the bell to the cymbal edge (higher profile cymbals are more bowl-shaped). The profile affects the pitch of the cymbal: higher profile cymbals have higher pitch.

Types

Orchestral cymbals

Cymbals offer a composer nearly endless amounts of color and effect. Their unique timbre allows them to project even against a full orchestra and through the heaviest of orchestrations and enhance articulation and nearly any dynamic. Cymbals have been utilized historically to suggest frenzy, fury or bacchanalian revels, as seen in the Venus music in

Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail
.

Clash cymbals

A pair of clash cymbals in cross section. The bell is in green and the straps are in red.
Main article: Clash cymbals

Orchestral

pianissimo
, adding a touch of colour rather than loud crash.

Crash cymbals are usually

kit drumming, a cymbal crash is still most often accompanied by a simultaneous kick to the bass drum
, which provides a musical effect and support to the crash.

Hi hats

Main article: Hi-hat

Crash cymbals evolved into the low-sock and from this to the modern

clash cymbal
as found in a drum kit, and perform a ride rather than a crash function.

Suspended cymbal

Main article: Suspended cymbal

Another use of cymbals is the

Symphonie Fantastique. Composers sometimes specifically request other types of mallets like felt mallets or timpani mallets for different attack and sustain qualities. Suspended cymbals can produce bright and slicing tones when forcefully struck, and give an eerie transparent "windy" sound when played quietly. A tremolo, or roll (played with two mallets alternately striking on opposing sides of the cymbal) can build in volume from almost inaudible to an overwhelming climax in a satisfyingly smooth manner (as in Humperdinck's Mother Goose Suite).[10] The edge of a suspended cymbal may be hit with the shoulder of a drum stick to obtain a sound somewhat akin to that of clash cymbals. Other methods of playing include scraping a coin or triangle beater rapidly across the ridges on the top of the cymbal, giving a "zing" sound (as some percussionists do in the fourth movement of Dvořák's Symphony No. 9
). Other effects that can be used include drawing a bass bow across the edge of the cymbal for a sound like squealing car brakes.

Ancient cymbals

Ancient, antique or tuned cymbals are much more rarely called for. Their timbre is entirely different, more like that of small hand-bells or of the notes of the keyed harmonica. They are not struck full against each other, but by one of their edges, and the note given in by them is higher in proportion as they are thicker and smaller. Berlioz's Romeo and Juliet calls for two pairs of cymbals, modeled on some old Pompeian instruments no larger than the hand (some are no larger than a large coin), and tuned to F and B flat.[9] The modern instruments descended from this line are the crotales.

List of cymbal types

Hi-hats. The clutch suspends the top cymbal on a rod operated by a pedal.

Cymbal types include:

See also

References

Citations

  1. Perseus Project
    .
  2. Perseus Project
    .
  3. ^ κύμβη in Liddell and Scott.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1-56159-239-5
    .‎
  5. ^ E. Khanzadyan (1959). Musical Instruments of ancient Armenia (Studies of the History Museum of Armenia). Vol. 5. Yerevan: History Museum of Armenia. p. 64.
  6. ^
    ISBN 9781101993231
    . and the columns resounded with the blare of trumpets and bugles, the jangling of bells, and the clashing of Indian cymbals.
  7. ISBN 9780197135594
    .
  8. ^ "Cymbals & Music Education - SABIAN Cymbals - Learn, Play, Have Fun". Sabian.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b Schlesinger 1911.
  10. ISBN 978-0933224612
    .

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cymbals.
Look up cymbal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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