Drum Set
ENGLISH 1010- B. Stephenson
ENGLISH 1010- B. Stephenson
08
Fall
08
Fall
The Modern Drum Set: Driving the Rhythm of Change in America
Jeffrey Ringle
A synthesis and comparison of the socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and musical effects the invention of the drum kit has had on America since its invention circa 1900.
The Modern Drum Set: Driving the Rhythm of Change in America
Jeffrey Ringle
A synthesis and comparison of the socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and musical effects the invention of the drum kit has had on America since its invention circa 1900.
Perhaps the greatest American musical feat was the invention of the foot pedal and the modern drum kit. The drum kit epitomizes American ingenuity and the diversity that melted into what became American music. It’s central role in the development of American music flowed out into American culture as music became more commercialized, industrialized, and secularized. As it did, the modern drum set, along with the music it drove, became more and more influential in American culture. The history of drums and their close connection to religion, ritual, and rhetoric goes back to the beginning of civilization in the Indus, Tigris, and Euphrates valleys, and is too comprehensive to discuss in detail in this context. (Hart) As early as 1623, Turkish metalworker Avedis Zildjian had perfected a process of treating alloys to make musical cymbals that is essentially still in use today. However, the acceptance of drums into American culture was brought about mostly by the military and it’s need for snare and bass drummers, (also cymbals in the case of some Eastern armies.) Had war not driven the need for loud and striking rhythm, drums may not have made their way to America, especially in light of the cultural intolerance in America at the time and the obvious correlation between drumming, drums, rhythm, and the African continent. Thankfully though, drums did make their way to America, in a big
ENGLISH 1010- B. Stephenson
08
Fall
08
Fall
The Modern Drum Set: Driving the Rhythm of Change in America
Jeffrey Ringle
A synthesis and comparison of the socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and musical effects the invention of the drum kit has had on America since its invention circa 1900.
The Modern Drum Set: Driving the Rhythm of Change in America
Jeffrey Ringle
A synthesis and comparison of the socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and musical effects the invention of the drum kit has had on America since its invention circa 1900.
Perhaps the greatest American musical feat was the invention of the foot pedal and the modern drum kit. The drum kit epitomizes American ingenuity and the diversity that melted into what became American music. It’s central role in the development of American music flowed out into American culture as music became more commercialized, industrialized, and secularized. As it did, the modern drum set, along with the music it drove, became more and more influential in American culture. The history of drums and their close connection to religion, ritual, and rhetoric goes back to the beginning of civilization in the Indus, Tigris, and Euphrates valleys, and is too comprehensive to discuss in detail in this context. (Hart) As early as 1623, Turkish metalworker Avedis Zildjian had perfected a process of treating alloys to make musical cymbals that is essentially still in use today. However, the acceptance of drums into American culture was brought about mostly by the military and it’s need for snare and bass drummers, (also cymbals in the case of some Eastern armies.) Had war not driven the need for loud and striking rhythm, drums may not have made their way to America, especially in light of the cultural intolerance in America at the time and the obvious correlation between drumming, drums, rhythm, and the African continent. Thankfully though, drums did make their way to America, in a big
Cited: Aldridge, John. Guide To Vintage Drums. Anaheim Hills: Centerstream Publishing, 1994. Candelaria, Lorenzo and Daniel Kingman. American Music: A Panorama. Third, Concise. Belmont: Clark Baxter, 2007. Hart, Mikey. Drumming On The Edge of Magic. Los Angeles : Acid Test Productions, 1998. Kotarba, Joseph and Phillip Vannini. Understanding Society Through Popular Music. New York City: Taylor and Francis, 2009. Pinksterboer, Hugo. The Cymbal Book. Ed. Rick Mattingly. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard, 1992.