Percussion · Cymbals & gongs
Cymbals
Bronze plates, either clashed together as a pair (crash cymbals) or hung singly and played with sticks or mallets (suspended cymbal).
- Section
- Percussion
- Family
- Cymbals & gongs
- Classification
- Idiophone · struck plates
- Pitch
- Indefinite (unpitched)
- Notation
- Percussion clef, single line
Parts of the cymbals
Every cymbal has the same three zones; orchestral crash cymbals are larger and heavier. Photo: Kovac9478, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Labels added by Musicians Tools.
Writing for the cymbals
- Crash cymbals can ring freely (“l.v.”, let vibrate) or be choked immediately (“secco”).
- A suspended-cymbal roll with soft mallets makes a swelling wash; a crescendo roll is a classic transition.
- A bowed cymbal, played with a bass bow on the edge, gives an eerie sustained tone.
- Cymbal crashes are conspicuous and tiring to play. Save them for real climaxes.
History
Cymbals are ancient instruments. Turkish cymbals entered European orchestras with Janissary music in the 18th century. The Zildjian workshop, founded in Constantinople in the 17th century, is still the best-known maker.
Listen
Key works featuring the cymbals. Each link opens a YouTube search, so you can pick the recording you like.
Useful tools
Cymbals & gongs
Also in the family (pages coming):Suspended cymbalGong (pitched)
Ancestors:Turkish zil