Cymbals

General info:

Clash cymbals (also called concert cymbals or orchestral cymbals) are cymbals played in identical pairs by holding one cymbal in each hand and striking the two together.

History:

The history of cymbals started around 5000 years ago when metalworkers in the early civilizations invented alloy bronze metal which is copper combined with tin. The cymbals were first used as a signal since the high pitch ear ringing sound could be heard from a long distance this was the perfect use it seemed. Later on, in the 1300 ad, the Turkish civilization picked it up and used it in the military and for religious purposes. Turkish cymbals spread to Europe and became common in the orchestra and operas.

Today, one of the world's biggest manufacturers is Zildjian. Through 14 generations of cymbal makers, the still family-owned Zildjian cymbals traces its origins back to 1618. This clocks the company in at just under 400 years, making it one of the oldest operations on earth still in existence.

Range:

N/A

Role:

Clash cymbals have traditionally been accompanied by the bass drum playing an identical part. This combination, played loudly, is an effective way to accentuate a note since the two instruments together contribute to both very low and very high frequency ranges and provide a satisfying "clash-bang-wallop". However in kit drumming, a cymbal crash is still most often accompanied by a simultaneous kick to thebass drum, which provides both a musical effect and a support to the crash stroke.

Foreign names:

Becken ---- German

Cymbales ---- French

Piatti ---- Italian

Famous pieces: