The History of the Snare Drums
The earliest form of the snare drum was the medieval tabor. The tabor
is a double headed drum. It often has one simple gut snare. The tabor
was often played along with a three-holed pipe in the Middle Ages.
Today this combination can still be found in modern European folk music.
The tabor gradually increased in size during the 15th century. It emerged as a military instrument by the 16th century.
It was popularized by the fife-and-drum corps of Swiss mercenary foot
soldiers. This version of the drum was a large instrument carried over
the player's right shoulder, suspended by a strap. It is to this
instrument that English word "drum" was first used.
Laces were used to increase the tension of the heads. It was
accomplished by lacing a cord in a W or Y pattern around the shell.
This method was replaced with the development of a top hoop. This hoop
was used with tension screws, which could alter the tautness of the
drumhead.
Snare drums were primarily used as military instruments and are still
associated with the infantry and the fife. They were introduced into
other music in the 18th century when it was first used in the
orchestra. In the 19th century it replaced the tenor drum of military
bands.
History of the Bass Drums
The term bass drum has been used for two distinct instruments. The
first had a short shell with a wide head. It can be traced back to the
14th century in Europe. This drum was known to the West as the Turkish
drum until the 19th century.
The other bass drum was a long drum. The length of its cylinder was
about twice the width of the diameter. This drum was changed until it
resembled the other one during the course of the 19th century. Its
shell was shortened and widened, and the shell was replaced with brass.
A cord was once used to attach the head of a drum to the shell. It was
done by wrapping a cord around the border of skin that overlapped the
shell. This was later replaced when the hoop was added to the head
around which the excess skin was lapped.
Laces were used to increase the tension of the heads. It was
accomplished by lacing a cord in a W or Y pattern around the shell.
This method was replaced with the development of a top hoop. This hoop
had tension screws, which could alter the tautness of the drumhead.
The bass drum was first introduced into European music in the 18th
century. It came from the Turkish military music being produced at the
time.
