Learning through objects from the Islington Education Library Service’s handling collection
Brass Crash Cymbal, China
The Chinese Crash Cymbal makes a dramatic, loud, crashing sound. In China it is also known as the Lion Cymbal and it accompanies the Lion Dance at Chinese New Year festivities and other special occasions and celebrations.
The cymbal is a round percussion instrument. This one is brass and it looks like a curved plate. Unlike other cymbals, the section from the centre boss to the edge is rounded, and the edge curves upwards. The plates meet approximately 3cm from the edge. The string to hold the cymbal runs through the raised central boss.
The player holds a pair of cymbals by their string handles and strikes them together to make the sound. A two-plate roll is sounded when a pair of cymbals are rubbed together or the edges agitated against each other. A suspended cymbal on a vertical stand can be played with a variety of drumsticks.
Cymbals are used in the West in rock bands as part of the drum kit.
The cymbal is a round percussion instrument. This one is brass and it looks like a curved plate. Unlike other cymbals, the section from the centre boss to the edge is rounded, and the edge curves upwards. The plates meet approximately 3cm from the edge. The string to hold the cymbal runs through the raised central boss.
The player holds a pair of cymbals by their string handles and strikes them together to make the sound. A two-plate roll is sounded when a pair of cymbals are rubbed together or the edges agitated against each other. A suspended cymbal on a vertical stand can be played with a variety of drumsticks.
Cymbals are used in the West in rock bands as part of the drum kit.
Cymbal Diameter:30cm
Cymbals
Cymbals are of ancient origin and are referred to in the Bible (Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Psalm 150). Cymbals have been used to mark the beginning of chanting in prayers and musicians are shown in cave paintings 2000BC. China is credited with being the oldest cymbal-making country but there is evidence suggesting that their country of origin is India or Turkey, with cymbals coming to China from Tibet.
Sound, Workings and Use
Chinese cymbals are different from other cymbals. Turkish cymbals are flat and sloping from the centre boss to the edge, and only the outer rims meet. They have a definite pitch and can be played in a number of ways to accompany a range of music. The shape of the cymbal and the metals used in making the Chinese cymbal, results in a brittle sound and texture so it has an indefinite pitch and is limited to making crashing sounds. It is mainly used in bands and orchestras for special effects, and to make a dramatic thunderous sound. Cymbals are made of brass. The metal is melted and then cooled, and the instrument can be made by hand or machine - this one is hand-beaten.
The cymbal is played in traditional Chinese music. Traditional Chinese music is composed of short instrumental pieces based on stories and legends, nature or true events. Both the Chinese gong and cymbal are percussion instruments, and are often used in the same way. They are played during the Chinese New Year festivities, as a way of warding off evil spirits and as an accompaniment to ceremonial dances such as the Lion and Dragon dances. They are also used to punctuate the performance in Chinese Opera.
Cymbals are of ancient origin and are referred to in the Bible (Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Psalm 150). Cymbals have been used to mark the beginning of chanting in prayers and musicians are shown in cave paintings 2000BC. China is credited with being the oldest cymbal-making country but there is evidence suggesting that their country of origin is India or Turkey, with cymbals coming to China from Tibet.
Sound, Workings and Use
Chinese cymbals are different from other cymbals. Turkish cymbals are flat and sloping from the centre boss to the edge, and only the outer rims meet. They have a definite pitch and can be played in a number of ways to accompany a range of music. The shape of the cymbal and the metals used in making the Chinese cymbal, results in a brittle sound and texture so it has an indefinite pitch and is limited to making crashing sounds. It is mainly used in bands and orchestras for special effects, and to make a dramatic thunderous sound. Cymbals are made of brass. The metal is melted and then cooled, and the instrument can be made by hand or machine - this one is hand-beaten.
The cymbal is played in traditional Chinese music. Traditional Chinese music is composed of short instrumental pieces based on stories and legends, nature or true events. Both the Chinese gong and cymbal are percussion instruments, and are often used in the same way. They are played during the Chinese New Year festivities, as a way of warding off evil spirits and as an accompaniment to ceremonial dances such as the Lion and Dragon dances. They are also used to punctuate the performance in Chinese Opera.
Cymbal Diameter:30cm
The Chinese Crash Cymbal makes a dramatic, loud, crashing sound. In China it is also known as the Lion Cymbal and it accompanies the Lion Dance at Chinese New Year festivities and other special occasions and celebrations.
The cymbal is a round percussion instrument. This one is brass and it looks like a curved plate. Unlike other cymbals, the section from the centre boss to the edge is rounded, and the edge curves upwards. The plates meet approximately 3cm from the edge. The string to hold the cymbal runs through the raised central boss.
The player holds a pair of cymbals by their string handles and strikes them together to make the sound. A two-plate roll is sounded when a pair of cymbals are rubbed together or the edges agitated against each other. A suspended cymbal on a vertical stand can be played with a variety of drumsticks.
Cymbals are used in the West in rock bands as part of the drum kit.
The cymbal is a round percussion instrument. This one is brass and it looks like a curved plate. Unlike other cymbals, the section from the centre boss to the edge is rounded, and the edge curves upwards. The plates meet approximately 3cm from the edge. The string to hold the cymbal runs through the raised central boss.
The player holds a pair of cymbals by their string handles and strikes them together to make the sound. A two-plate roll is sounded when a pair of cymbals are rubbed together or the edges agitated against each other. A suspended cymbal on a vertical stand can be played with a variety of drumsticks.
Cymbals are used in the West in rock bands as part of the drum kit.
- Term:
- Description:
- Boss
- The raised central part of the cymbal. The handle is threaded through the centre of the boss.
- Chinese New Year
- The Chinese festival marking the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring.
- Chinese opera
- A combination of music, dance, martial arts and acrobatics. The music sounds very different to that of European operas and its purpose is to punctuate the action of the drama. High-pitched voices pierce the air, accompanied by crashing cymbals, banging gongs, drums and stringed instruments.
- Definite pitch
- When an instrument can sound a range of specific notes.
- Indefinite pitch
- When an instrument can only be used to make one sound. It cannot be used to play a scale or higher and lower notes and it cannot be tuned. The term usually refers to percussion instruments.
- Lion
- Lion Dance - the dance performed by acrobats manipulating a lion mask and tail. The dance takes place to welcome in the Chinese New Year and at other festivals.
