The final part in our series about the Western Orchestra explores the percussion section. Despite being hidden at the back of the orchestra, the timpani (timps), drums, cymbals and other percussion instruments can always be clearly heard. 

 

The word “percussion” means hitting, and so percussion instruments create sound by being struck, shaken or scraped. Percussion instruments are divided broadly into two groups: “pitched”, which can play specific notes or pitches, and “unpitched”.