History of Drums & Percussion

The drum is perhaps the earliest known musical instrument, and even today plays an important role in many musical genres. Yet the drum has served many other purposes as well, and continues to do so in tribal and religious societies all over the world. A relatively simple instrument both to build and to play, the drum nonetheless has a rich and complex history.

History

The earliest known appearance of the drum stems from Neolithic times. Excavations dated to around 6000 B.C. have turned up primitive versions of these instruments.

Early Types

The first drums were usually made out of a hollowed out log, with one end covered in reptile or fish skins. The instruments were played by hand, and eventually animal skins and drumsticks were added.

Function

Drums served a number of purposes, not least of which was communication. They also play an important role in a number of religious and civil ceremonies.

Temple Drums

In some cultures in East Africa, for example, offerings are made to the king's drums as a symbol of power. Frame-style drums also appear in temples of the ancient Middle East.

Types

Over the years, drums have taken on a number of shapes and constructions, many of which are still in use. These range from small pottery drums, to the large taiko drums of Japan with their rope-lashed heads.

Modern Drumming

By the mid fourteenth century in Europe, drums had begun to make an appearance in military marching. Their addition to the orchestra came a few hundred years later in the seventeenth century, and they've been largely unchanged since.

Resources

• Bibliography of Drum History
• European Drum History