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Basel drum

The Basel drum (also known as the Basler or Basle drum) is a two-headed rope-tension drum.[1] It takes its name from its origin in Basel. This percussion instrument is best known from the Carnival of Basel, where it is played by more than 2000 drummers. They are called Tambouren in Swiss German or Tambourins in French. There is no typical number of players for marching-bands including this instrument. Anything between three and fifty drummers may be seen in such a formation.

Different kinds of Basler drums

Drums of the same pattern are used throughout Switzerland in fife and drum (or drum only) societies as well as in Swiss Army bands. They are also known as 'Swiss drums' or 'Ordonance 82'.

Method of construction

Until the late 18th century drums were primarily made of wood. However, it has been demonstrated that brass frames were in use in Prussia since the early 18th century. In the 19th century, copper, tin, and nickel silver were also used. Nowadays, the frame is usually made of chromed brass. There are also frames made from non-chromed brass, aluminum (weight advantage), and recently even carbon fiber. For some time, the wooden drum has been gaining popularity. Not only because of the look, but also because of its much lower weight. In addition, the drier sound of the wooden drum is perceived as pleasant by many drummers.

The counterhoops of the metal drums are mostly painted in black and white diagonal stripes – black and white being the heraldic colors of Basel. In other cantons (districts) of Switzerland other colors are used accordingly. The Swiss army uses red and white striped hoops. Colors of guilds or family crests are only rarely used today. The hoops on wooden drums are usually left natural. While the color scheme formerly strictly obeyed heraldry and an exception was tolerated only for wooden drums, today anything goes. However, chrome frames with black and white tires and black or white tugs continue to dominate the scene.

There are two drumheads, which are stretched over the two open ends of the frame (also called "kettle" or "bucket" in Basel). The heads are made of plastic or calfskin parchment. Calf skins are enjoyable to play on due to their softer rebound. However, natural drumheads can be used only in dry weather, otherwise they will be flabby. In practice, therefore, the player of a calfskin-headed drum needs to have access to a second drum with plastic heads.

The drumheads are held together and tuned by a rope, made of polyester or hemp, which passes through the holes in the hoops. Today, the hemp rope has a carbon core to minimize weather-related tension differences. In earlier times the rope was simply wrapped around the tires or attached by means of an iron hook on it. To tension the ropes, the hoops are compressed in a special 'manual, pneumatic press-system'.

Until the 19th century marching drums in Europe and the colonies in general had this type of construction. In the course of time, the ropes were replaced by tuning screws called "tension rods".

The snare-sound is produced by gut and metal strings, which vibrate against the bottom drumhead. The top batter head can be damped with a felt pad which is fixed under the skin. With the help of a wheel on the outside of the frame, the intensity of the damping can be adjusted. Another damping method involves a strip of felt, which is clamped transversely under the batter head.

The diameter of the drum is measured on the outside of the frame and is usually 40 or 41 cm (about 16 inches), sometimes 42 or even 43 cm (up to 17 inches). The height of the frame generally corresponds to the diameter.

 
A Swiss drummer marking time with a Basel drum

History

The oldest drum of this type dates back to 1571. It can be seen in the Basel Music Museum. In Switzerland church festivals, carnival parades, guild ceremonies, and public events incorporating dancing, games and entertainment have traditionally been accompanied by the sound of drums.

Playing

The drum is worn on a sling, which is carried over the right shoulder, down to the left hip. By mounting the drum on its hoop, it hangs down diagonally to the right, as seen by the drummer. Owing to the diagonal position of the drum, the traditional grip must be applied.

References

  1. ^ Beck, John H. (2014). Encyclopedia of Percussion (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. pp. 145–149. ISBN 978-0-415971-23-2. OCLC 939052116.

External links

  • Swiss 'drummers and fifers' association (English version)

basel, drum, also, known, basler, basle, drum, headed, rope, tension, drum, takes, name, from, origin, basel, this, percussion, instrument, best, known, from, carnival, basel, where, played, more, than, 2000, drummers, they, called, tambouren, swiss, german, t. The Basel drum also known as the Basler or Basle drum is a two headed rope tension drum 1 It takes its name from its origin in Basel This percussion instrument is best known from the Carnival of Basel where it is played by more than 2000 drummers They are called Tambouren in Swiss German or Tambourins in French There is no typical number of players for marching bands including this instrument Anything between three and fifty drummers may be seen in such a formation Different kinds of Basler drumsThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Basel drum news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Drums of the same pattern are used throughout Switzerland in fife and drum or drum only societies as well as in Swiss Army bands They are also known as Swiss drums or Ordonance 82 Contents 1 Method of construction 2 History 3 Playing 4 References 5 External linksMethod of construction EditUntil the late 18th century drums were primarily made of wood However it has been demonstrated that brass frames were in use in Prussia since the early 18th century In the 19th century copper tin and nickel silver were also used Nowadays the frame is usually made of chromed brass There are also frames made from non chromed brass aluminum weight advantage and recently even carbon fiber For some time the wooden drum has been gaining popularity Not only because of the look but also because of its much lower weight In addition the drier sound of the wooden drum is perceived as pleasant by many drummers The counterhoops of the metal drums are mostly painted in black and white diagonal stripes black and white being the heraldic colors of Basel In other cantons districts of Switzerland other colors are used accordingly The Swiss army uses red and white striped hoops Colors of guilds or family crests are only rarely used today The hoops on wooden drums are usually left natural While the color scheme formerly strictly obeyed heraldry and an exception was tolerated only for wooden drums today anything goes However chrome frames with black and white tires and black or white tugs continue to dominate the scene There are two drumheads which are stretched over the two open ends of the frame also called kettle or bucket in Basel The heads are made of plastic or calfskin parchment Calf skins are enjoyable to play on due to their softer rebound However natural drumheads can be used only in dry weather otherwise they will be flabby In practice therefore the player of a calfskin headed drum needs to have access to a second drum with plastic heads The drumheads are held together and tuned by a rope made of polyester or hemp which passes through the holes in the hoops Today the hemp rope has a carbon core to minimize weather related tension differences In earlier times the rope was simply wrapped around the tires or attached by means of an iron hook on it To tension the ropes the hoops are compressed in a special manual pneumatic press system Until the 19th century marching drums in Europe and the colonies in general had this type of construction In the course of time the ropes were replaced by tuning screws called tension rods The snare sound is produced by gut and metal strings which vibrate against the bottom drumhead The top batter head can be damped with a felt pad which is fixed under the skin With the help of a wheel on the outside of the frame the intensity of the damping can be adjusted Another damping method involves a strip of felt which is clamped transversely under the batter head The diameter of the drum is measured on the outside of the frame and is usually 40 or 41 cm about 16 inches sometimes 42 or even 43 cm up to 17 inches The height of the frame generally corresponds to the diameter A Swiss drummer marking time with a Basel drumHistory EditThe oldest drum of this type dates back to 1571 It can be seen in the Basel Music Museum In Switzerland church festivals carnival parades guild ceremonies and public events incorporating dancing games and entertainment have traditionally been accompanied by the sound of drums Playing EditThe drum is worn on a sling which is carried over the right shoulder down to the left hip By mounting the drum on its hoop it hangs down diagonally to the right as seen by the drummer Owing to the diagonal position of the drum the traditional grip must be applied References Edit Beck John H 2014 Encyclopedia of Percussion 2nd ed New York NY Routledge pp 145 149 ISBN 978 0 415971 23 2 OCLC 939052116 External links EditSwiss drummers and fifers association English version Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Basel drum amp oldid 1114990098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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