 Crotales, C6–C8 range, byPaiste | |
| Percussion instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Percussion |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 111.22 (Percussion plaques) |
Crotales (/ˈkroʊtɑːlz/,/ˈkroʊtəlz/[1]), sometimes calledantique cymbals, arepercussion instruments consisting of small,tuned bronze or brass disks. Each is about 10 cm (4 in) in diameter with a flat top surface and a nipple on the base. They are commonly played by being struck with hardmallets. However, they may also be played by striking two disks together in the same manner asfinger cymbals, or by bowing. Their sound is rather like a small tunedbell, only with a much brighter sound and a much longer resonance. Similar to tuned finger cymbals, crotales are thicker and larger; they also have slight grooves in them. The name comes from the Greekcrotalon, for acastanet or rattle.
Modern crotales are arrangedchromatically and have a range of up to twooctaves. They are typically available in sets (commonly one octave) but may also be purchased individually. Crotales are treated astransposing instruments; music for crotales is written two octaves lower than the sounding pitch to minimizeledger lines.
Crotal bells are a type of small bell, mostly medieval. A different form of crotal is found inPrehistoric Ireland. TheNational Museum of Ireland andBritish Museum have several examples on display dating from the lateBronze Age (c. 800 BC) which were found in theDowris Hoard, alongside various brass wind instruments. These are bronze cylinders in the rough shape of a bull's testicle, with a piece of baked clay or a pebble inside. It is presumed they functioned as a type of rattle. The hoard had 48 of them in total, in two sizes. Only two other examples are known, both Irish.[2]
One of the earliest uses of crotales in the orchestral repertoire isHector Berlioz'sRoméo et Juliette (1839). Other classical pieces featuring crotales includeClaude Debussy'sPrélude à l'après-midi d'un faune,Maurice Ravel's orchestration of hisAlborada del gracioso andHenri Dutilleux'sCello Concerto.[3]
The contemporary American composerJohn Adams uses them in many of his more colorful orchestral pieces such asShort Ride in a Fast Machine.[4] ComposerJulia Wolfe uses crotales in her oratorioFire in my mouth.[5]
Crotales are also found in popular music, particularly in rock music.Neil Peart ofRush used them as part of his basicdrum kit for several years, featuring them in the introduction to the instrumental "YYZ", andAlan White ofYes used them in the middle instrumental section of "Awaken" fromGoing for the One. The Bengsons use them in the instrumentation of their Off-Broadway show "Hundred Days."Wilco drummerGlenn Kotche uses them live on theYankee Hotel Foxtrot song "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart".
Media related toCrotales at Wikimedia Commons