Thread: Percussion and DRUM, for classical music?

term: DRUM = modern drum set

Let's talk about Drum again. Here the premise:
Music we know are elements like, melody, harmony , rythms. While classical music success very much in melody and harmony, but rythms part is less exploit by its respective instrument. We got less Trio for Piano, cello AND TIMPANI for example to speak.

Also less rythms part become central of the composition. Instrumental speaking, less having a 'Concertos', 'sonata', etc. I know timpanis are one I found enjoyed this rule, some examples :

Kraft Timpani Concerto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXDZ...eature=related

Glass Concerto Fantasy for Two timpanist & orchestra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yYwa...eature=related

Moving on, today's modern drum is ALSO less used in contemporary classical music. Here are some videos showing people try to drumming classical pieces, means that actually drum can integrated to classical music. Most example here were done in rock style, but I am sure serious composer can compose a nice Drum score for it.

Rondo alla turca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zI2-obHP8s

Marriage of Figaro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8IU96AMbmo

Symphony No.5 Beethoven
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT86M...eature=related

So is drum one of 'uncompatible' instrument for classical music?? Drum is a successfull instrument in most non classical music. I know I mixed a lot of thing in one post, I just want to see what classical-orientated people thinks about the present of drum in classical music.

Originally Posted by katanne

percussion i think can be used in a classical music.. but the drums? i dont think so..

Plenty of contemporary "classical" works use a drumkit.
Birtwistle's Panic is amongst the best.
The kit is specified as "4 woodblocks, 4 temple blocks, 4 bongos, 4 tom toms, 3 congas, pedal bass drum, hi-hat"
More on Panic here: http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Harri...tle-Panic/3339

That's will be close. But with that setup I think more correct to called it percussion-set. What I referred to DRUM here is a standard drum set consist of : 1 snare drum, 1 bass drum, 1 floor drum, 1 or more Tom Tom, 1 hi hat cymbal, 1 or more cymbals.



In brass orchestra I've seen many of its using this drum set succesful. But most are re-arranged composition of famous piece. What I like to see is an original classical composition implemented this drum set. Either as background ryhtm / drumming or as solo (as in my Timpani video example).

I've always wanted to know if a composer has incorporated the typical rock drum set in a classical music work. I think it's difficult, though. The drum set is designed to accomodate the needs of simpler music where one man handles all percussive parts -almost-). In classical rhythm is not held by a steady hi-hat-bassdrum-snare pattern but by the music itself. Classical music rhythm, while less obvious, is MUCH more complicated.

This improvised performance sounds interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ_rhPlDCH4

Haha,...I am certainly guilty of such pleasures! While I've done it and it is fun, I don't feel there is a true place for the kit in true classical. This guy has some sweet double bass pedal work, though! He's also got his toms arranged in a not-so-traditional way but it works very nicely for him. If you can play drums and know the piece inside out, this is very easy and fun.

This one features one of the world's top drummers, Chad Wackerman.


Here's another one.

I thought I'd post in which there's an orchestra, a drummer and a guitar player. True, is just a "cover", let's say, but still lovely and yeah, it's just for rhythm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ncThuOD94s

the only "true concept" about drumset in classical music I familiar is Tan Dun's Violin Concerto. It's a new piece, and I dunno if there is recording out there yet.

i am perfectly according with you

Patrick Zimmerli - the call

Piano, violin, drums and electric bass

M-A Turnage has written works which feature drum kit - jazzer Peter Erskine manned the traps on at least a couple of these recordings but perhaps these works can almost be termed 'crossover' (in the more credible sense of the word) as they feature jazz guitar as well. Going back further I think a passage from one of Arnold's middle-period symphonies features 'modern' drums as well - if it isn't actually a full kit then there is definitely at least what sounds like a snare drum and ride cymbal being used together in a manner similar to the beat on R & B songs like 'Blueberry Hill'.

What about Schnittke's 2nd concerto grosso?? That piece is genius and it uses a drum kit.