Books › A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891 › scan 250
Scan 250
A descriptive catalogue of the musical instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition, London, 1890 …, 1891
10 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 230. See the scan on archive.org.
1employment of the snare is noticed by all three writers. These side-drums were generally played in bands, associated with fifes of various kinds, and in the 16th century the use of these bands had become almost as universal as at the present day.
3Of the introduction of the drum into the orchestra it is more easy to speak with certainty. Left previously to military use exclusively, they were first introduced in the orchestra of the Grande Écurie by Lully, and since that time have been considered a necessary adjunct. At first a single pair of kettledrums were employed; Berlioz, however, introduced the use of three, and this number is now to be found in most large orchestras in Europe. According to M. Lavoix (Histoire de l'Instrumentation), the side-drum—caisse claire—was made use of by Marais, a composer now almost forgotten, who lived from 1636 to 1728; and it was employed with effect in the tempest scene in his opera of "Alcione." Gluck afterwards made use of it in "Iphigénie en Tauride," and the example thus set was followed generally by other composers. The tambourine, or tambour de basque, was once used in military bands, but, except for special effects, its use has long since been discontinued.
5Of other percussion instruments it is only necessary to state that, of Eastern origin, they are used merely as rhythmical accompaniments. Cymbals and triangles are found in all military bands, and an occasional use is made of castanets.
7The collection of percussion instruments in the Exhibition was very large; but to avoid needless repetition, it is thought more advisable to give a general view of this section, than to describe each instrument under a separate heading.
9The kettledrums and trumpets used on State occasions, and graciously lent by Her Majesty the Queen, were placed in a case by themselves, and attracted much attention. The banners were of silk beautifully embroidered and fringed with gold lace. The drums were principally of interest as having been made by Cornelius Ward, and being an early example of a mode of tuning invented and patented by him in 1837. This tuning arrangement, now so commonly employed, consists of a right and left handed screw, acting in conjunction with a series of pulleys, and so arranged that, by a single turn of the hand, all the braces become tightened simultaneously. The drums measure
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