Snare drum
Percussion instrument | |
---|---|
Other names | Field drum, side drum |
Classification |
|
Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 211.212.11 (Individual double-skin cylindrical drums, one skin used for playing) |
Developed | 13th century |
Related instruments | |
Tabor |
The snare drum (or side drum) is a
Snare drums are usually played with
The snare drum originates from the
The snare drum is constructed of two
Playing
When the top head is struck, the bottom (resonant) head vibrates in tandem, which in turn stimulates the snares and produces a cracking sound.
The drum can be played by striking it with a
The snares can be thrown off (disengaged) with a lever on the strainer so that the drum produces a sound reminiscent of a
A commonly used alternative way to play the snare drum is known as "cross-stick", "rim click", or "side-stick". This is done by holding the tip of the drumstick against the drum head and striking the stick's other end (the butt) against the rim, using the hand to mute the head.
Construction
Snare drums may be made from various
Most wooden snare drum shells are constructed in plies (layers) that are heat- and compression-moulded into a cylinder. Steam-bent shells consist of one ply of wood that is gradually rounded into a cylinder and glued at one seam. Reinforcement rings, so-called "re-rings", are often incorporated on the inside surface of the drum shell to keep it perfectly round. Segment shells are made of multiple stacks of segmented wood rings. The segments are glued together and rounded out by a lathe. Similarly, stave shells are constructed of vertically glued pieces of wood into a cylinder (much like a barrel) that is also rounded out by a lathe. Solid shells are constructed of one solid piece of hollowed wood.
The
A new technique used to improve the sound quality during snare drum construction is symmetrical venting. In contrast to a standard single vent hole, air can easily travel through and around the instrument without getting caught. This rapid movement creates a smoother, stronger sound.
History
The snare drum seems to have descended from a medieval drum called the
Much of the development of the snare drum and its
Before the advent of radio and electronic communications, the snare drum was often used to communicate orders to soldiers. American troops were woken up by drum and fife playing about five minutes of music, for example, the well-known Three Camps.[10] Troops were called for meals by certain drum pieces, such as "Peas on a Trencher" or "Roast Beef". A piece called the "Tattoo" was used to signal that all soldiers should be in their tent, and the "Fatigue Call" was used to police the quarters or drum unruly women out of the camp.[11]
Many of these military pieces required a thorough grounding in rudimental drumming; indeed Moeller states that: "They [the rudimental drummers] were the only ones who could do it [play the military camp duty pieces]".[12] Moeller furthermore states that "No matter how well a drummer can read, if he does not know the rudimental system of drumming, it is impossible for him to play 'The Three Camps', 'Breakfast Call', or in fact any of the Duty except the simple beats such as 'The Troop'."[13]
During the late 18th and 19th century, the military bugle largely supplanted the snare and fife for signals. Most modern militaries and scouting groups use the bugle alone to make bugle calls that announce scheduled and unscheduled events of the organization (from First Call to Taps). While most modern military signals use only the bugle, the snare is still retained for some signals, for example, the Adjutant's Call.
Snare drumheads were originally made from calfskin. The invention of the plastic (Mylar) drumhead is credited to a drummer named Marion "Chick" Evans, who made the first plastic drumhead in 1956.[14]
Drum rudiments seem to have developed with the snare drum; the Swiss fife and drum groups are sometimes credited with their invention.[15] The first written rudiment was drawn up in Basel, Switzerland in 1610.[16] Rudiments with familiar names—such as the single paradiddle, flam, drag, ratamacue, and double stroke roll, also called the "ma-ma da-da" roll—are listed in Charles Ashworth's book in 1812.[17]
Definitions
- Military drum/field drum: a snare drum with a diameter of 14–16 in and 9–16 in deep, with a wood or metal shell and the two heads stretched by tensioning screws. It has a snare-release lever to activate or deactivate a minimum of eight metal, gut, or plastic snares. The term came into use in 1837 with the invention of the tensioning-screw mechanism. While it frequently placed on a stand, it can also be played without the stand, screws and the lever in marching configuration.[18] Also called a Tamburo Militare in Italian, a Militär-Trommel in German, a Tambor in Spanish, a Tamboer in Dutch or a Tambour Militaire or Tambour D'ordonannce in French, or uncommonly a Street Drum in English.[19]
- Side drum: a common British and Scottish Highlands term for a snare drum.[20] Also known as a Piccolo Cassa or Tamburo Piccolo in Italian, Kleine Trommel in German, Caja in Spanish, or Caisse Claire in French.[19] Refers commonly to an orchestral snare drum in America, while in the Commonwealth it refers to a marching snare.
- Tabor: a large drum with a single snare on the batter head used in the Middle Ages and sometimes called for in orchestral repertoire. Also known as a Tenor Drum, a Tamburello in Italian, a Tamburin in German, or a Tambourin Provençal in French.[19] Not to be confused with the Scottish pipe band tenor drum which has no snare.
- Guillotine drum:
Types
There are many types of snare drums, for example:
- Marching snare ("regular" and "high tension")
- Pipe band snare
Similar to a marching snare, pipe band snares are deep and tuned quite tightly. The major difference is that they feature a second set of snare wires beneath the batter head, along with the normal set on the resonant head.[22] This gives them an even more crisp and snappy sound. Snare drummers form an integral part of pipe bands, accompanying the bagpipes, and playing music written to fit the pipe tunes. A bass drummer and several tenor drummers, who also perform visual representations of the music, known as flourishing, add to the percussion section of a pipe band. The music played by pipe band snare drummers can be technically difficult, and requires a high degree of rudimental ability, similar to that of marching bands. Pipe Band snare normally use the traditional grip.
- Drum kit snare
Drum kit snares are usually about a third to half the depth of a marching snare. They are typically 14 in (36 cm) in diameter and 5, 5+1⁄2, 6, 6+1⁄2 or 7 in (13, 14, 15, 17 or 18 cm), with 8 in (20 cm) depths also available.[21] Typically uses coiled metal snare wires.
- Piccolo snare
The piccolo snare is a type of snare used by drummers seeking a higher-pitched sound from their snare. Because the piccolo snare has a narrower depth than that of the marching snare or set snare, a higher-pitched "pop" is more widely associated with it. Although the piccolo snare has a more distinctive, unique sound, it has some downsides. Because of the "sharper" sound of the piccolo, its sound travels further and is picked up by microphones further away during recording, making it difficult to record effectively.[23] There are many kinds of piccolo snare which can be piccolos, including the popcorn, soprano and standard snares. Popcorn snares typically have a diameter of 10 in (25 cm), sopranos 12–13 in (30–33 cm), and standard piccolos 14 in (36 cm).[23] A well-known user of the piccolo snare was Neil Peart, the drummer of Rush, who used a 13 in (33 cm) X Shell Series Piccolo.
- Orchestral snare
Orchestral snare drums usually conform to the dimensions of drum kit snares, but often have a calf skin head or a synthetic approximation of a natural head material. They also typically use snares made of metal cable, gut, synthetic cord, or nylon,[21] with some orchestral snare strainers supporting 3 different materials simultaneously and the ability to tune each bundle of snare material independently.[24]
- Tabor
The tabor snare dates back to around the 14th century, and was used for marching beats in wars. It is a double-headed drum with a single snare strand, and was often played along with the three-holed pipe flute. The dimensions vary with the different types of tabor. It is typically 4+1⁄2 in (11 cm) wide and around 11–13 in (28–33 cm) in diameter.[25]
- Tarol
The tarol snare has similar dimensions to the kit snare. The major distinction is that the snares in this type are on the top head rather than the bottom one.
- Caixa malacacheta
"Caixa" meaning "box". This is a simple 12 or 14 in (30 or 36 cm) diameter, 8 in (20 cm) deep snare typical of Samba played in Southern Brasil. Made from aluminum or steel with the snare wires on top, it can be played from a sling or "em cima" – on the shoulder to project the sound.
Famous solo works
- "Three Dances for Solo Snare Drum" by Warren Benson
- "Trommel Suite" by Siegfried Fink
- "American Suite for Solo Snare Drum" by Guy Gauthreaux II
- "Prím" by Áskell Másson
- "March-Cadenza" by Gert Mortensen
- "Douze Études pour Caisse Claire" by Jacques Delécluse
Famous orchestral repertoire
- Lieutenant Kije by Sergei Prokofiev
- Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov
- "The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa
- Polovetsian Dances by Alexander Borodin
- Carl Nielsen's Fifth Symphony
- Edgard Varese
- Bolero by Maurice Ravel
- Dmitri Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony, "Leningrad" and Eleventh Symphony, "The Year 1905"
- Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra
Popular brands
- Brady Drum Company
- DW
- Fibes
- Gretsch
- Ludwig
- Mapex
- Pearl Drums
- Pork Pie Percussion
- Premier
- Remo
- Rogers
- Slingerland
- Sonor
- Tama
- Yamaha
See also
References
- ^ James Blades, et al. "Drum." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 13 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Pearl Drums". Pearldrum.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ISBN 978-982-532-052-4. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Vic Firth". Vic Firth. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ Bennett, Donn (November 2014). "Buddy Rich's 1966 Fibes Fiberglass Set" (PDF). DRUM!. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ "History of the snare drum". Drummuffler.com. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Another short history of the snare drum". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "Definition of Tabor". Merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Profile of the Snare Drum – Percussions". Musiced.about.com. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Three camps played in a traditional (authentic) rudimentary style". 16 June 2008. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2012 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Schedule of calls the musicians (drummers) made in the camps". 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2000. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ISBN 1571346899.
- ISBN 1571346899.
- ^ "History of Evans drum head". Evansdrumheads.com. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "The development of Drum Rudiments, by W F Ludwig". Rudimentaldrumming.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "Basler Pfyffersyte – Repertoire vo de Clique 2005". Pfyffersyte.ch. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ Ashworth, Charles (1812). A new, useful and complete system of drum beating including the reveille, troop, retreat, officer's calls, signals, salutes, and the whole of the camp duty as practiced at head quarters, Washington City : intended particularly for the United States Army and Navy. Boston, Massachusetts: G. Graupner.
- ^ Beck, p. 62.
- ^ a b c goldenberg, morris. Modern School for Snare Drum. Chappell, 1955.
- ^ Beck, p. 83.
- ^ a b c "Snare drum | musical instrument". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "What is Scottish Pipe Band Drumming?". Rhythm-monster.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ a b "What Is a Piccolo Snare Drum? (with picture)". Info Bloom. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "ORCHESTRAL SNARE DRUM PERFORMANCE : AN HISTORICAL STUDY" (PDF). Pas.org. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "History of the Snare Drum". Archived from the original on 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
Sources
- Beck, John (1995). Encyclopedia of percussion instruments. New York: ISBN 0-8240-4788-5. Google Books preview. Accessed 8 September 2009.
External links
- Marching Snare Drum Heads – Description of types of marching snare drum heads.
- How to Change a Marching Snare Drum Head
- Field Drums Blog Photos, information, critical commentary and analysis of field drums, focusing on drums of the American Civil War
- How to Build a Snare Drum DRUM! Magazine shows the step-by-step process of building a snare drum.
- How is the snare drum played? Techniques, which help create different snare drum sounds.
- How to replace and adjust the snare wire savvy Learn how to replace and adjust snare wires for a crisp, responsive snare sound.