Materials in percussion instrument.
Garry M. Kvistad · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2011
As ideophones, the sounds of percussion instruments are very dependent on the materials of which they are made. The physical properties are important as are the methods of processing the materials that determine the dryness, temperament, and speed of sound. In this presentation, the focus will be from a performer’s point of view. The choice of mallets used to activate the instrument is as important as the instrument itself, and mallets are made of many varieties of materials as well. In addition to being a performing musician, the presenter is an instrument builder, which yields a unique relationship to the understanding of sound production. His orchestral training and instrument building experience work together, creating an understanding of how to produce different sounds with different materials and how sound is produced from a acoustical standpoint. Many different percussion instruments will be used to demonstrate the effect materials and methods of manufacturing have on the timbre of the instrument.