Percussion

A varied array of percussion instruments, including bells, cymbals of different sizes, various kinds of drum, a triangle, and even improvised items such as a pail. (Pic: Ottmar Liebert)

Percussion is one of the main categories of musical instrument, which includes all instruments that are played by striking. This encompasses a wide variety of drums, as well as xylophones, glockenspiels and, techically, keyboard instruments such as the piano, since the sound is produced by a hammer striking a string.

Percussion instruments are used in most forms of music, providing a rhythm for the other instruments to keep to, as well as dramatic sounds that can punctuate important passages of the music. In the modern orchestra, the percussion section often includes timpani and a range of smaller instruments such as triangles, bells and woodblocks.

Percussion is particularly important in types of music, such as most Latin American and African styles, that place a strong emphasis on rhythm; these genres often use an array of traditional percussive instruments such as bongos and guiros. In recent years, some genres of popular music have abandoned 'real' percussion altogether in favor of drum machines, but the sounds these produce still have their roots in traditional drums and cymbals for the most part.

Percussion instruments are one of the oldest types of music-making device. Cymbals are often mentioned in the Bible, eg in Psalm 150:5.