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Drum it!
Percussion instruments and particularly drums have always held a special fascination for me. And of course the people who master these instruments. Of all the instruments I can’t play (and that’s pretty much all of them…) it’s the drum set I can least imagine mastering. Not just keeping the beat and rhythm, providing the foundation for the music to the other musicians in a band but also the talent to tell stories with the drum and to take the listener into a fascinating world of sound and rhythm. Terrific.
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133 Replies
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When I stumbled across this music video by chance, I got the idea that this could be a nice topic: Drums and rhythm. So I would be interested to know which percussion instruments you particularly like and which favorite music titles you can think of on this topic. Maybe there is a nice memory or a specific experience that you associate with drums, percussion and rhythm.
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I find it interesting that modern music still features one of the oldest beat instruments: our hands. Simply rhythm, which can move so much in us.
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Hi Jürgen,
Steve Reich, whose composition is performed in the video, was trained as a percussionist. His compositions tend to feature percussion instruments, from hand claps to wood to marimbas. Most of his better known works are experimenting with time and sounds that go in and out of phase with other sounds, sounds that get shorter or longer. Fans of “minimalist” music and percussion should definitely check out his “Drumming.” You can scrub through if you just want to sample the variety of instruments and sounds in the nearly hour-long composition.
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Hi David,
thank you for posting the Steve Reich presentation. The minimalist approach is an interesting alternative for me to emphasize certain sound elements, like here the different percussion instruments. However, it is also a hard break with our listening habits (at least with mine). The classic features of a traditional composition, such as the precise definition of pitches, tone durations and the resulting rhythm is missing. A continuous melody is not recognizable either. It’s more like drifting in a complex tapestry of sound. I wondered whether such approaches also existed in modern rock music. Perhaps some progressive rock tracks come closest to this approach.
You have previously reported on John Cage. Do you like minimalist and modern experimental music? Even before your post, I found the following video of this modern perusssion trio and didn’t quite know how to include it in this topic. Maybe this is the right time…🙂
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Hi Jürgen,
I got into minimalist and experimental music back in the 70s, though less so these days as the minimalist movement seems to have run its course. I remember the first time I listened to an early Philip Glass album, it was so wildly different that even though I can’t say I enjoyed it, I was compelled to listen to more.
The tapestry of sound is certainly accurate for some composers. Terry Riley’s “In C” is a perfect example. Others have a more identifiable structure but use it to play around with repetition or shifts in time, etc. Then others, like John Cage, made noise (or silence) and challenged the audience to think about what it takes for something to be “music.”
As for influences in more popular music, Revolution 9 I think qualifies as minimalist (and Yoko Ono knew John Cage) and I always thought “I Want You, She’s So Heavy” had minimalist sensibilities in the spare lyrics and in the way they repeated the instrumental phrase for 3+ minutes and then cut with no fade, no resolution. Compare it to the piano ending in Clapton’s Layla.
More “avant garde” composers like Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, or Kraftwerk have definitely borrowed from minimalism, though sometimes these days the aim seems to be more about creating a great dance groove than trying to strip away elements of traditional classical music to try to find what’s essential. Anyway, I can’t even play an instrument, so I can only talk about what it sounds like to me!
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Hi David,
thank you for your interesting contribution. I’ve always wondered what the deeper meaning of Revolution 9 could actually be. Now that you mention Yoko Ono’s influence on the Beatles, specifically John Lennon, combined with a minimalist approach to music, the possible genesis of this title becomes more comprehensible to me. As you mentioned, Yoko Ono was anchored in the artist scene in the 1960s. I did some research: she was a supporter of the so-called Fluxus movement. An artistic approach that does not depend on the work of art, but on the creative idea.
The music of Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream and Rheingold interested me in the 80s, because I was (and still am) very fascinated by the possibilities of electronic music at that time. To this day, Kraftwerk enjoys cult status. Personally, this music is too monotonous for me in the long run. As you said, Tangerine Dream and Rheingold followed a more avant-garde approach. I don’t know the other artists you mentioned, I’ll take a closer look.
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„Eight Days a Week”: Handclaps only
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I enjoy percussion stuff and oddly enough , find it easier to play around on percussion stuff rather than trying with no success on grasping Guitaring …My Brain/Hand/Eye-Co-ordination-Connection thrives better with percussion … Here’s a photo still of me tackling a samba bongo (name might be incorrect of drum type ) that I had borrowed for a couple of wks from The Public Library Music Instrument Loan Program certain branches offer here in my city, one branch being a hop, skip, jump away from me , this photo from a few yrs ago …
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Hi Jacki,
thank you for your “Congo picture”. Do you play the drums just for fun or to specifically train your hand and eye coordination? Could you imagine playing drums in a band?
I find it interesting that you can borrow musical instruments from the public library. That’s a nice idea. I don’t know if we have this option too. But we have so-called music schools for that. These are state-funded institutions where courses are offered that are intended to serve musical education. In addition to music lessons at school (which I experienced as very theoretical), children and young people should have the opportunity to learn instruments or singing. But I personally think it would be nicer if you could try out different instruments in regular music lessons at school to find out which instrument suits you best. In my class, only those students who already mastered an instrument were actually encouraged. For the rest of us (including me), the music lessons were boring. It’s a pity, since childish curiosity can be aroused so quickly. I would have liked to learn an instrument. But it’s been a few years since I went to school… 🙂. Maybe the music lessons have changed in the last decades. Maybe it was just because of my music teachers at the time. Who knows.
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Hi Jurgen…No, I just enjoy playing around, for fun , conjuring up rhythms , tunes in my head and/or try to play along by ear if I’m listening …I cannot read music/understand the theories of music…I’m more of being a ” play by ear ” type …
In elementary school, there was singing classes where we sung songs out of Grade Specific Songbook Series … and/or photocopies of typed out lyrics/music of songs chosen by Music Class Teacher … I did take part in being in a choir I think it was in Grades 6-8 ….. and tried to be in a music class in high school, tried to play trumpet, failing class, rather in music teacher’s eyes, I was an imbecile idiot for being in his class but I had to take a music class in high school…it was compulsory-mandatory… That whole experience put me off wanting to learn any instrument… I like to now play around on instruments that I enjoy … but singing is my main thing 🤘🏻🎼🎵🎶
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Hi Jacki,
I think as far as music lessons are concerned, we both have probably had similar unpleasant experiences, but finally we ended up here in the music forum and that’s a very good thing. 😀
You mentioned the formation „Stomp“ a while back on another topic. I think they also fit this topic very well:
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Don’t forget about Blue Man Group! This is the first routine I ever saw them do, about 30 years ago, and I still haven’t been able to get it out of my mind:
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Oh yes David, the Blue Man Group. I never got to see them live, but I’ve seen several excerpts from their shows. Some of the ideas were pretty wacky, but presented in a funny and entertaining way.
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Here is the entertaining approach of an Egyptian music group to make the body sound:
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I know, Sina is no longer an insider tip here in the forum. But seeing her play is always a lot of fun:
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Several years ago I had the pleasure to see a Japanese “Taiko” ensemble during a live concert. An impressive spectacle. The stage shook and the musicians radiated a lot of energy and charisma.
“Taiko” means something like thick drum. The history of Taiko goes back over 2000 years. Archaeologists have found that the drums were used for communication or even for religious rituals. However, it is believed that the instrument has changed over time. It is also likely that the taiko came to Japan in about the 5th or 6th century, namely from India. Initially, the Taiko was used in court music. Then, in the 11th century, taiko found application in Noh Theater (a traditional theatrical performance in which the actor is accompanied by music). Taiko drums also played an important role in religious ceremonies, as well as in dancing at folk festivals.
Fun Fact: Playing taiko is not only a passion for musicians, but also determines their life rhythm and everyday life. For example, the Japanese drummers of the taiko ensemble "Yamato" begin their training every day at 6:30 a.m. with a 10-kilometer run (originally 20 kilometers /round about 12,4 miles), followed by strength exercises by pounding the shime daikos (a smaller traditional drum). A single member spends an average of 3,600 hours a year just drumming. That's up to 10 hours a day. In a year, up to 200 drumsticks fall victim to the anarchic sound game. Each member of Yamato makes all of their own drumsticks. Per show, a drummer loses between 2 and 3 kilograms of body weight.
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Hi Jurgen
Some songs that come to mind with remarkable drums or percussion would be Paul McCartney’s Let Em In. Love the solo marching band drum sounds. Another song with some iconic percussion is Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, while not drums but rather slapping and stomping, that unique persccusive beginning really makes that song.
Mona and Lisa’s “Songbird” has amazing drum work. Some really powerful and dynamic drum sounds. In the part leading up to the harpsichord at about 1:30 in, and along with the harpsichord, the drumming is quite spectacular, if you focus in on the drums, it sounds like firework, really fantastic. The drumming also provides the beating back ground for the bass, and together sounds so awesome. Really amazing musicianship. Mona does an incredible job with those drums on Songbird and throughout the entire album.
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Hi Jung,
yeah “Let ’em in” begins with the world-famous chime of Big Ben and the drum of the marching music runs like a red thread through the song, accompanied by the characteristic melody of the transverse flutes. It’s an idiosyncratic composition, but that makes it unique.
You’re right, what would “We will rock you” be without the dominating beat of the drums? In general, Queen liked to use dominating rhythms in their songs. Like the bass at the beginning of “Another one bites the dust” or the kick drum and pounding piano in „Flash Gordon“.
And of course Songbird: the drums add a special sophistication and elegance to the song. I can’t describe it exactly, but due to the excellent work of the drums (Mona I suppose) in combination with the cenbalo, the whole piece gains an airiness and lightness that highlights the theme of the song. Grandiose work.
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I always want to add something Dutch.
Maybe to many drummers? https://youtu.be/i6UbfJYJW8c
And something different: https://youtu.be/k2hFXd0oAwk
And of course this one by Fleetwoord Mac: https://youtu.be/1PhEtl_jsOg
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Fred van der Wees.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Fred van der Wees.
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Hi Fred,
thanks. No, not too many drummers 😀. Your dutch stuff is pretty cool. I like the performance of golden earing, of course, 1000 drummers wow. And Slagerij van Kampen, that’s the kind of presentation I had in mind when I started this topic. Great.
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Jurgen, sorry no idea how to add the umlaut, Slagerij is a butcher. The name of the band is after a butcher wgich is mentioned in several comic books of Kuifje (Tintin). Not sure if it also a butcher in other lanquages.
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Hi Fred, the umlaut is a basic problem here. Never mind. Juergen or Jurgen, thats’s fine. Of course, now that you write it: Slagerij = Slaughter = Schlachter (another word for butcher). Here with us the comic Tintin is called “Tim und Struppi“ and in the German edition the butcher’s name is „Mister Schnitzel“ (I like TinTin’s animated cartoons very much). I suppose that the group Slagheri named itself this way because of the heavy percussion ensemble. I just watched some of their performances. They exude a great deal of dynamism and energy. Have you already seen Slagheri live?
Here’s another attempt to unite as many drummers as possible, even if it’s only virtual definitely a very nice idea.
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Hi Jurgen I got to know Slagerij van Kampen due to an end of the year, Christnas, meeting for a company I worked for around 20 years ago, they did a live performance of 30-45 minutes. I loved the energy during the concert, so the next day I bought a CD. I have not seen them live since that day (maybe a few times for a few minutes on TV).
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I don’t think this has been posted yet. Not only many drummers, but many musicians all together. Your post reminded me of it.
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Hi Tobias,
thanks for the post. I find it impressive what kind of effort is put into such major events. Until all the instruments are set up and then the coordination of the many musicians…, already fascinating. I don’t think anyone who has taken part in such a major event won’t soon forget it.
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Thansk for the video Tobias, great to see so many people having fun with making music.
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And here’s another “Drum Big Band”. Lots of different people having fun together.
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When you search on YouTube you find more and more happenings like this; fun to watch.
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I wonder if there was any farmers in the next county that thought a storm was moving in?
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Maybe they also thought that a wild horde of crazed cows had broken out and made their way to them… 😀
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by
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Jurgen…loved that video
One of the groups that comes immediately to mind for me is King Crimson. Extremely disaplined drum and percussion work. They are amazing to see live. Can be tedious if you aren’t really into it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1JapuD0ikk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpZxwe4SXY8
I love the drums in Come Together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45cYwDMibGo
And of course let me introduce Mona on drums and bongos!!
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Thanks Dave, I’m familiar with King Crimson by name, but haven’t really looked into the band yet. I really like the drummer solo in Elstree. The three drummers harmonize well and complement each other. That’s great. I still have a concert in mind (I think on the occasion of the death of George Harrison) where all the stars came out. Among others, Ringo Starr and Phil Collins drummed there at the same time. That was creepy. The two dueled on drums instead of playing together. The three drummers here can clearly do that better. Which King Crimson album would you recommend as a start?
Yes, the drum set in Come Together is very distinctive and characterizes the entire song. As for the instrumentation on Mona and Lisa, this is a reflection of their personalities. Lisa is sometimes a little more in the foreground, she seems a little bit more extroverted and assertive to me (I don’t mean that in a negative way). Maybe it’s because she often does the lead vocals and lead guitar. With the percussion and the rhythm guitar, Mona forms a solid foundation for the songs and gives the whole thing a perfect structure. An ideal complement. Perhaps this is the secret of their success. But before I start an avalanche of protest here: this is just my humble opinion.
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Jurgen….It wasn’t until about 2011 that KC went to three drummers so none of their formal studio albums have that. However since then they have toured alot using 3 drummers/percussionists. I’m attaching 5 of their collections of live music with the 3 drummer set-up. Live in Chicago is a great place to start. Over the 50+ years they have been on and off and each time with a new line up with Fripp being the constant. I really love their 1st 2 studio albums, In the Court of the Crimson King and In the Wake of Poseidon but there is only one drummer in the group primarily fro 1969-2011. There is also a link below to another live cut which show cases the drummers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWmECLnMKGk
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Dave Johnston.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by Dave Johnston.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by
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Thanks Dave. Lots of material. That should be enough to get me started. 😀 I’ll take a look at it then.
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This track charted in the 80s and won a Grammy Award:
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Martin Grubinger is an Austrian drummer and multi-percussionist. He is considered one of the world’s best marimba players. Martin received his first lessons from his father, a percussionist and teacher of percussion instruments at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
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An impressive performance by Swiss jazz drummer Charly Antonini. The original piece “Caravan” was written by Bernard “Buddy” Rich in the year 1962. He was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Known as a virtuoso with phenomenal power and speed, he had his own big band.
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I was looking for an interesting overview of the development of drums in modern music history. As always, there is plenty of material on this. Some contributions are too long for posting here in the forum others are presented in several parts. Real pitty. I found the following presentations or contributions quite interesting:
- “Die Geschichte der Trommel / The history of the drum” by Katarina Dunstmann. An interesting contribution about the natural historical development of the first drum and rhythm instruments. Beginning in the Stone Age. Unfortunately only in German. However, English subtitles can be selected.
- “History of drum set” by Daniel Glass. An entertaining and amusing article about the development of the drum set in modern times. Beginning in 1865. A total of five short episodes.
- “150 Years of Drum Set Evolution” by Nolan Pettersen. This article was created as part of a scientific university thesis. Informative and very detailed.
- „The drums / 1935-2022” (by Rick Beato). Presented very entertaining. Just like we are used by him.
… and many, many more…
The following videoclip gives a brief overview of how the use of the drum set has changed in modern music history:
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Thanks for that Jurgen. I much appreciated the inclusion of “all that jazz”. It’s where most of my musical listening and learning resides these days.
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Hi Len,
I struggled with jazz for a long time. My listening habits were geared too much towards rock and pop music. But jazz music is a veritable cornucopia of creative ideas and ingenious musicians. For some, jazz is the pinnacle of music.
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Hi Len
I like piano jazz, sometimes enjoy listening it to it live. Apparently there is a connection between classical and jazz in Beethoven’s very last Piano Sonata No 32. He was completely deaf by this time, so it played in his head/imagination, but he was already anticipating future direction in music to jazz in his life time.
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Well Jung, as the saying goes, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!’ And who better to expound on the topic than Wynton Marsalis. More than anyone else, Wynton has probably been the most successful at mastering both the european and the afro musical narratives. It would appear that Mr. Ludwig just about got there. Some would argue he did get there. It would have been interesting if he had been around another 100 years, and heard the likes of Art Tatum, for example.
I, too, have a preference for piano jazz. Solo, or small groups. Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck, or Eliane Elias. It’s all good. I don’t play, so I guess part of it is watching fingers do what mine could never do. I guess we’re still on topic. Pianos are a percussive instruments. Hammers on strings!
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A very nice tribute to the music and work of Ringo Starr:
Fun fact: the drum company Ludwig achieved world fame by chance. Ringo Starr wanted to buy a new drum kit in 1963. Until that time, he had been playing one made by Premier. At the dealer Ivor Arbiter (founder of the first pure drum shop in London) he saw a sample of the color "Black Oyster Pearl", which he liked, but only Ludwig had in stock. So Ringo decided to buy this brand. Ivor Arbiter also designed the famous Beatles logo with the dropped T and painted it on the bass drum. As the Beatles became more famous, the name Ludwig also spread, with the logo next to the band's name on the head of the bass drum. In the 60s and 70s, Ludwig was the world's leading drum company. For his services to Ludwig, Ringo Starr received a special snare from the company as early as 1964.
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Another tribute for Ringo and his rather inconspicuous and yet so important role that he played in the microcosm of the Beatles. For many years I didn’t even perceive Ringo as an important element of the Beatles, as he was always overshadowed by the creativity of John and Paul. But every good team needs not only stars who are in the spotlight with their genius and ego, but also reliable team players who form the basic framework with their solid work. Ringo as a drummer was often unjustly undervalued because he acted rather unobtrusive in the background. But that was perhaps his great strength: he was creative and innovative in an unspectacular way. A similar role that George also took in the early years of the Beatles.
PS: The last five minutes of the post might not be that exciting, after all we have our favorite twins who cover the Beatles songs in such a lovely and brilliant way (but a bit of self-promotion is also granted to Sina…)
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And what George Harrison thinks about Ringo as a drummer:
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