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Cymbals (Fr. cymbales; Ger. Becken; Ital. piatti or cinelli), are a modern Percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various Cymbal alloys; see Cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. Most modern cymbals are of indefinite pitch (tuned sets have been manufactured but are rare), whereas small cup-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a definite note; see crotal.
Cymbals are used in modern orchestras and many military, marching, concert and other bands. They are one of the two instrument types that form the modern Drum kit, the other of course being the Drum, and as such are a basic part of much contemporary music. Even the most basic drum kit normally contains at least one Suspended cymbal and a pair of Hi-hat cymbals.
Orchestral crash cymbals are traditionally used in pairs, each one having a strap set in the bell of the cymbal by which they are held. Such a pair is known technically as a pair of clash cymbals, although this term is rarely used, see Clash cymbals. They are confusingly sometimes referred to simply as crash cymbals, although this term properly applies also to some suspended cymbals.
The sound is obtained by rubbing their edges together in a sliding movement rather than by clashing them against each other as laymen often suppose. A skilled player can obtain an enormous dynamic range from such a pair of cymbals. For example, in Beethoven's ninth symphony, one of their first appearances in an orchestral work, they make their entry pianissimo, adding a touch of colour rather than an almighty crash.
Clash cymbals are usually damped by pressing them against the player's body. A composer may write laissez vibrer, "Let them vibrate" (usually l.v.), sec (dry), or equivalent indications on the score; more usually, the player must judge exactly when to damp the cymbals based on the written duration of crash and the context in which it occurs.
Clash cymbals have traditionally been accompanied by the Bass drum playing an identical part. This combination, played loudly, is an effective way to accentuate a note since the two instruments together contribute to both very low and very high frequency ranges and provide a satisfying "crash-bang-wallop". In older music the composer sometimes provided just one part for this pair of instruments, writing senza piatti, or piatti soli if the bass drum is to remain silent. However, the modern convention is for the instruments to have independent parts.
Clash cymbals evolved into the low-sock and from this to the modern Hi-hat. Even in a modern drum kit, they remain paired with the bass drum as the two instruments which are played with the player's feet. However, hi-hat cymbals tend to be heavy with little taper, more similar to a Ride cymbal than to a Crash cymbal as found in a drum kit, and perform a ride rather than a crash function.
Furthermore, the edge of a suspended cymbal may be hit with shoulder of a Drum stick to obtain a sound somewhat akin to that of a pair of clash cymbals. Other methods of playing include scraping a coin or a triangle beater rapidly across the ridges on the top of the cymbal, giving a "zing" sound (as in the fourth movement of Dvořák's Symphony No. 9). Cymbals may also be dropped, intentionally or otherwise, causing a range of sounds depending on whether it hits the floor full on or spins before coming to a rest. This is not particularly good for the cymbal, however.
See also @ Cymbal manufacturers.