What is your favorite orchestra percussion instrument? Mine is the glockenspiel, because of the magical, light sound it produces. I also like the triangle. What is your favorite?

I don't know...the Timpani is a contender for the top spot. I love it in the scherzo movements of Beethoven and Dvorak's 9th symphonies.

I'm going to have to agree, Timps are the best percussion instrument. i think its obvious seen as though every other player in the orchestra envies the timp player cos he/she just gets to hit big things constantly

Those were my exact thoughts as I watching a performance of the Beethoven's 5th on YouTube.

Hem, timpani definitely, and drums and the... how is it called? I don't think it's the glockenspiel, it somehow sounds more bell-like and fine.
Well, the instrument I cannot identify has a prominent part in Holst's Planets - 'Neptune, the mistic'. Could you tell me what it is?

The gong is terryfing for the ears. It makes the air particles shimmer and clash together, so it seems to me when it's hit loudly (Rimsky-Korsakov 'Russian Easter'; Musorgsky 'The Pictures at an Ex. 'The Great Gates of Kiev')

Cymbals?

And "glockenspiel"...every time I read that word, hurriedly, some dog comes to mind.

I like probably the most peculiar *percussion* instrument: a *Zvon* (Russian Bell Peal). The analogy that describes the russian zvon is the African talking drum set. Russian bells are not tuned after they have been cast as is done in Western Bell Carrillons. The Western carrillons are tuned on a Lathe whereby a sharp tool is introduced to the inside lip of the bell and an amount of material is *scraped* off. Western carrillons are melodic instruments while the Russian bells are rhythm instruments where one subdivides beats. So, the bigger bell is the bass drum while the smaller bells are the various smaller drums *telling the story*.

Regards!

Giovanni

Thanks for bringing up the timpani, guys! In my haste to write the previous post I had forgotten of it. Yes it is also one of my definite favorites, as well as the gong!

The timpani is definatly the beef of the precussian section, but for me it has to be the vibraphone. I also like the marimba, but you have to be careful where you use it!

However, if you class the piano as a precussion instrument, obviously I would choose it.

Neptune, the Mystic has harps and a celesta throughout and near the end, along with the women's voices. This piece is so incredible ^^.

What you're looking for is probably the celesta? Its most famously known fot the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcraker.

Timpani is great. Tambourine too.

Thanks a lot! That's a celesta... I wasn't aware how gentle a sound it can produce. I always thought it's something quaky and harsh, having the same mechanism as the piano, but with metal bars instead.

Love my timps and Love my Marimba(just look at my avatar)
They are my 2 fave But any keyboard percussion is great.
Aux and multi-percussion can be fun but not really my favourite.

Also the Glockenspiel is a very interesting instrument. It is used a lot in Holst's the planets from what I hear.
The strange think about a glock is that it is tuned to A=442
I have no idea why but it just is.

__________________
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I think I'd have to say Timpani. I just love the timpani at the beginning of Greig's Piano Concerto. Marimba come close second though, as I play a lot of Marimba and love it's warm tone. I'm learning Flight of the Bumblebee on it, and I'm constantly going into my school whenever I can to practice it!

Triangle also gets honourable mention. Used at the right time it can add some great effects to a piece. So far no one has composed a triangle concerto, but Liszt had a triangle solo in his first piano concerto.

No one has mentioned the tom-tom and rattles. These are my favorites along
with the tamberine.
judy tooley