BASS DRUM

By Dania and April 7A

Parts of a Bass Drum

1. Where was it invented?

It was invented in Ontario Canada.

2. When was it invented?

The bass drum was invented around the

1930's. It was invented by Gabriella
Pittui.

3. Who has composed pieces for

it?
Bolero is an orchestral piece by Maurice
Ravel that includes the bass drum. There
is a piece called Requiem by Verdi that is
also for an orchestra (and the bass
drum.)

4. Has it always existed in the

current form? What changes
have been made, and when?

The bass drum was once a long drum.

The length of its cylinder was about
twice the width of the diameter. This
drum was changed until it resembled the
other one during the course of the 19th
century. Its shell was shortened and
widened, and the shell was replaced with
brass. A cord was once used to attach
the head of a drum to the shell. It was
done by wrapping a cord around the
border of skin that overlapped the shell.
This was later replaced when the rim
was added.

5. What ensembles (groups) does

it regularly play in?

The bass drum is sometimes played with

the ride cymbal, floor tom, toms, snare
drums, and hi hat. It is also played with
the rest of the orchestra.

6. What kind of music does it

play?
The bass drum is used in orchestral
music, ensemble music, concert band
music, marching music, and throughout
the 20th century as a component of the
drum kit in jazz, rock and related styles.
In music the bass drum is used to mark
or keep time. In marches, it is used to
project a tempo. In jazz the bass drum
can keep time from a medium to a
melodic voice. Bass drums are also used
for sound effectse.g. thunder, or an
earthquake.

7. How does your instrument

work?
To play the bass drum you need to stand
behind it and hit the center of the drums
face with your mallet. If you are right
handed you will use your right hand to
hit the mallet on the right side of the
bass drum. You hit the mallet on the left
side if you are left handed. You will place
your other hand (the one not holding a
mallet) on the face of the drum as to
soften the vibration.

8. Is this instrument in the

orchestra? If so, for how long?

This instrument is in the orchestra.

9. What does it look like? How

can I tell what it is?

A bass drum is a relatively large drum

that produces a note of loud definite or
indefinite pitch. It is the largest drum of
the orchestra.

10. Which family does it fit into?

The bass drum is in the drum and

precussion family.

Oh, Susanna

Bibliography
1.
"Bass Drum." Play Music - Homepage. Web. 03 Nov. 2010. <
http://www.playmusic.org/percussion/bassdrum.html>.
2.
"Instruments of the Orchestra - Percussion." Oregon Symphony Home. Web. 03 Nov. 2010. <
http://www.orsymphony.org/edu/instruments/popups/percussion.html>.
3.
"Percussion." Oracle ThinkQuest Library. Web. 03 Nov. 2010. <
http://library.thinkquest.org/5116/percussion.htm>.
4.
"Who Invented the Bass Drum? - Answers.Ask.com." Ask Answers - Answers.Ask.com. Web. 03 Nov.
2010. <http://answers.ask.com/Entertainment/Music/who_invented_the_bass_drum>.
5.
"Percussion - Bass Drum." Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Web. 03 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.mathcs.duq.edu/~iben/bassdrum.htm>.
"Bass Drum." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_drum
>.
"Bass Drum." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_drum
>.
"Concert Bass Drums : XL Specialty Percussion Lightweight Folding Bass Drum Stand - Buy ORCHESTRA
PERCU." Free-scores.com : Mondial De La Partition Gratuite (Partitions Gratuites PDF, MIDI Et MP3). Web. 08
Nov. 2010. <http://www.free-scores.com/boutique/boutique-uk-frame-acc.php?
clef=95788&CATEGORIE=630>.
Lautzenheiser, Tim, John Higgins, Charles Menghini, Paul Lavender, Tom C. Rhodes, and Don Bierscenk.
Essential Elements. Ed. Will Rapp. 1st ed. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2004. Print. Precussion.