Bass Drum
“almost awe-inspiring”
It is struck with a rigid stick with a large head of felt. Single strokes at regular intervals on the bass drum p or pp are most impressive - almost awe-inspiring - and when f or ff impart tremendous force to the tutti.” Jacob, 1982, p. 65 (dynamic: soft)
"a noise which might be compared to the fall of a sack full of ironmongery"
“This economical proceeding is intolerable; the cymbals, losing thus their sonority, produce a noise which might be compared to the fall of a sack full of ironmongery and broken glass.” Berlioz, 1882, p. 226
awe
“Apart from the use, or rather the abuse, of the Bass-Drum and Cymbals in Ballet and March music, the former instrument has two main orchestral uses: (1) To mark the high lights, or the progress and climax of an extended crescendo. (2)To convey feeling of awe and solemnity by means of its pp notes. Forsyth, 1914, p. 29 (dynamic: soft)
belligerent
"In older symphonic literature it was often used to depict war or belligerent hostility." Adler, 2002, p. 463
booming
“The bass drum is a "noise maker" par excellence with a booming resonance of great carrying power which is in proportion to its size.” Wagner, 1959, p. 261
dark
“It is a two-headed drum with a very dark sound.” Blatter, 1997, p. 226
deep
“Owing to the depth and reverberation of the sound of the bass drum, rhythmical figures, unless very slow, do not come out clearly, but the roll is quite often used and is especially effective pp, when it imparts to the ensemble a shuddering effect akin to that produced by a 32- or 64-foot organ-pipe.” Jacob, 1982, p. 66
deep
"It is often remarked that its soft tones are felt rather than heard, like some of the deepest organ pipes." Piston, 1969, p. 308
deep
”One such advantage is the bass-drum roll, with its ominous deep thud. Wagner, 1959, p. 261 (technique: roll)
distant artillery
“When the instrument is struck in the ordinary way, slow irregular vibrations are set up which have something of the effect of the deepest 32 ft, pipes of the Organ, In the pianissimo they strongly resemble and have often been used to imitate distant artillery and thunder. The instrument has, of course, no definite pitch but it is matter of general observation that the rest of the orchestra and especially the heavy Brass tend to give it definite pitch.” Forsyth, 1914, p. 28 (dynamic: pp)
distant thunder
"It can also simulate distant thunder, or evoke a feeling of impending doom with a pianissimo roll." Adler, 2002, p. 463
distant thunder
“Soft rolls, which give a faintly threatening sound not unlike distant thunder, are especially useful for color effects.” Kennan and Grantham, 2002, pp. 252–253 (technique: roll)
distant thunder
“With the mailloche held by the middle of its handle, a roll resembling distant thunder may be produced.” Widor, 1906, p. 117 (technique: roll)
echo
"As one might expect, the listener senses a surfacy kind of sound accompanied by a faint echo from the large cavity of the instrument." Kennan and Grantham, 2002, p. 253 (technique: snare stick)
evoking a feeling of impending doom
"It can also simulate distant thunder, or evoke a feeling of impending doom with a pianissimo roll." Adler, 2002, p. 463 (dynamic: pp; technique: roll)
faintly threatening
“Soft rolls, which give a faintly threatening sound not unlike distant thunder, are especially useful for color effects.” Kennan and Grantham, 2002, pp. 252–253 (technique: roll)
farawayness
“A single deep booming stroke is sufficient to produce a sense of farawayness, of solemnity, even of hopeless desolation.” Forsyth, 1914, p. 30 (Grania and Diarmid)
full
“What is required of the Bass Drum is a full and rather heavy quality of tone.” Widor, 1906, p. 117
hopeless desolation
“A single deep booming stroke is sufficient to produce a sense of farawayness, of solemnity, even of hopeless desolation.” Forsyth, 1914, p. 30 (Grania and Diarmid)
hostile
"In older symphonic literature it was often used to depict war or belligerent hostility." Adler, 2002, p. 463
impressive
It is struck with a rigid stick with a large head of felt. Single strokes at regular intervals on the bass drum p or pp are most impressive - almost awe-inspiring - and when f or ff impart tremendous force to the tutti.” Jacob, 1982, p. 65 (dynamic: soft)
“noise maker”
“The bass drum is a "noise maker" par excellence with a booming resonance of great carrying power which is in proportion to its size.” Wagner, 1959, p. 261
ominous
“One such advantage is the bass-drum roll, with its ominous deep thud. Wagner, 1959, p. 261 (technique: roll)
powerful
"Because the bass drum has such tremendous power, it can easily drown out the rest of the orchestra when fortissimo strokes or rolls are played on it." Adler, 2002, p. 463
“rather heavy”
“What is required of the Bass Drum is a full and rather heavy quality of tone.” Widor, 1906, p. 117
resonant
“The bass drum is a "noise maker" par excellence with a booming resonance of great carrying power which is in proportion to its size.” Wagner, 1959, p. 261
reverberant
“Owing to the depth and reverberation of the sound of the bass drum, rhythmical figures, unless very slow, do not come out clearly, but the roll is quite often used and is especially effective pp, when it imparts to the ensemble a shudderin effect akin to that produced by a 32- or 64-foot organ-pipe.” Jacob, 1982, p. 66
“shuddering effect”
“Owing to the depth and reverberation of the sound of the bass drum, rhythmical figures, unless very slow, do not come out clearly, but the roll is quite often used and is especially effective pp, when it imparts to the ensemble a shuddering effect akin to that produced by a 32- or 64-foot organ-pipe.” Jacob, 1982, p. 66 (dynamic: pp; technique: roll)
slow
"The bass drum's response is a bit slower than that of the smaller drums, but it is very effective in playing slow repeated notes as well as fast, secco isolated strokes." Adler, 2002_425 463
solemnity
“Apart from the use, or rather the abuse, of the Bass-Drum and Cymbals in Ballet and March music, the former instrument has two main orchestral uses: (1) To mark the high lights, or the progress and climax of an extended crescendo. (2) To convey feeling of awe and solemnity by means of its pp notes. Forsyth, 1914, p. 29 (dynamic: pp)
solemnity
“A single deep booming stroke is sufficient to produce a sense of farawayness, of solemnity, even of hopeless desolation.” Forsyth, 1914, p. 30 (Grania and Diarmid)
surfacy
"As one might expect, the listener senses a “surfacy” kind of sound accompanied by a faint echo from the large cavity of the instrument." Kennan and Grantham, 2002, p. 253 (technique: snare stick)
thunder
“When the instrument is struck in the ordinary way, slow irregular vibrations are set up which have something of the effect of the deepest 32 ft, pipes of the Organ, In the pianissimo they strongly resemble and have often been used to imitate distant artillery and thunder. The instrument has, of course, no definite pitch but it is matter of general observation that the rest of the orchestra and especially the heavy Brass tend to give it definite pitch.” Forsyth, 1914, p. 28 (dynamic: pp)
war-like
"In older symphonic literature it was often used to depict war or belligerent hostility." Adler, 2002, p. 463
weight
“The student may, however, be warned that he should go through the dynamic scheme of a movement, and select only those few essential places for his Bass-Drum strokes where he feels that the great weight of the instrument is a necessity. Forsyth, 1914, p. 29
Bass drum and cymbal
grand
“Who has not been moved by the pianissimo attack of the united Bass Drum and Cymbals, accentuating a phrase, to which it lends mysterious solemnity and impressive grandeur?åÊ Widor, 1906_221 118
mysterious
Who has not been moved by the pianissimo attack of the united Bass Drum and Cymbals, accentuating a phrase, to which it lends mysterious solemnity and impressive grandeur?åÊ Widor, 1906_219 118
solemn
“Who has not been moved by the pianissimo attack of the united Bass Drum and Cymbals, accentuating a phrase, to which it lends mysterious solemnity and impressive grandeur?åÊ Widor, 1906_220 118
