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Thepercussion section is one of the main divisions of theorchestra and theconcert band. It includes mostpercussion instruments and allunpitched instruments.
The percussion section is itself divided into three subsections:
These three subsections reflect the three main skill areas that apercussionist studies.
Percussion sections, consisting of similar instruments, may also be found in stage bands and othermusical ensembles.[1]
This subsection is traditionally calledtuned percussion,[2] however the corresponding termuntuned percussion is avoided in modernorganology in favour of the termunpitched percussion, so the instruments of this subsection are similarly termedpitched percussion. All instruments of this subsection are pitched, and with the exception of the timpani, all pitched instruments of the percussion section are in this subsection.
They include:
Despite the name,keyboard percussion instruments do not havekeyboards as such.Keyboard instruments such as thecelesta andkeyboard glockenspiel are not included in the percussion section owing to the very different skills required to play them, but instead are grouped in thekeyboard section with instruments that require similar skills.
Allunpitched percussion instruments are grouped into theauxiliary percussion subsection, which includes an enormous variety of instruments, including drums, cymbals, bells, shakers, whistles and evenfound objects.
Players are expected to be accomplished on thesnare drum,bass drum,clash cymbals and otherhand percussion, and to be able to adapt these skills to playing other instruments and even objects, for example thetypewriter.
The timpanist is a specialist who does not usually perform on the other percussion instruments during a concert. A high level of skill unique to this instrument is expected. While players of the keyboard and auxiliary percussion subsections often play many instruments from both subsections during a performance or piece, the timpanist is normally dedicated to that instrument.