Chapter Five

Polyrhythm

Multi-Layered Rhythmic Structure

Organized by a Common Unit

Too Rapid to Be Perceived as a Beat

Polyrhythm

Percussion Family

Idiophones

Membranophones

Produce their sounds from the materials from which they are made--such as claves, xylophones, cymbals

Idiophones

Definite Pitchxylophone

marimba

ganda/amadina

(African)

vibraphones

glockenspiel (bells)

chimes (tubular bells)

steel drums

gong

Indefinite Pitchcymbals (Turkish/Chinese)triangletam-tamwoodblock (Chinese––ban)clavescastenetstemple blocksmaracasratchetgüiro

Idiophones

Produce their soundsthrough the vibration of a stretched skin or membrane

Membranophones

Or a combination of membrane and idiophone.

Definite

Pitch<nakers

timpani>

tabla

kalangu

dundun

Membranophones

Indefinite Pitch

Raised Rims

field drum

bass drum

tom-toms

timbales

snare drum (sound

modified by metal snares on

bottom head)

No Raised Rims

bongos

congas

tambourine

shaman

drums

bodhran

Membranophones

W. African Percussion Instruments

Idiophones

Agogo

Xylophones

Shakere (rattles)

W. African Percussion Instruments

Membranophones

Djembe (hourglass drum)

Dundun (talking drum)