percussion 2

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R h e t t De l C a m p o

Location:

Stockholm, Sweden

Position:

Royal Swedish Opera & Ballet

Principal Percussion

School:

New England Conservatory, BM

DePaul University, MM

Hobbies:

Running, Learning to Fly, Golf, Traveling

Hometown:

Chicago, IL

Website:

www.operan.se

www.hovkapellet.com

Greatest opportunity through music:

Besides all of the inspiring and eclectic performances I have been lucky to be a part of, what has broadened my horizons the most has been the experiences traveling around the world with different orchestras. Performing, and now working in a different country, really opens your eyes to the varying roles music plays in our societies.

The best thing I like about percussion is:

Playing percussion can be a ton of fun. You get to make so many different sounds with all of the instruments and in the opera world, playing off-stage music such as church bells or cannons makes your night at work that much more unique. I especially enjoy how open to interpretation percussion parts can be. It allows you to be quite free with your ideas such as differing kinds of cymbal crashes with a wide range of possibilities in terms of sound color.

How I got started in music:

I began playing music when I was three studying the piano. I did that for 18 years and had the opportunity to play piano concerti with different orchestras. Playing with those orchestras is what helped me realize that I wanted to be in the orchestra making the music, not in front of it. Having the ability to read music well made for a smooth transition to mallet instruments such as the marimba.

P e r c u s s i o n 2

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s n a r e d r u m

b a s s d r u m

c h i m e s

c y m b a l s

g o n g

S n a r e D r u m

The snare drum joined the orchestra nearly 200 years ago. It has two calfskin or plastic drumheads stretched tightly over a hollow metal frame. The top head is struck with wooden drumsticks, and is called the batter-head. The bottom head, or snare-head has catgut or metal wires called snares stretched tightly across it. When this untuned drum is struck on the top head, the snares produce a characteristic sharp rattling sound as they vibrate against the bottom head.

Hear the Snare Drum

B a s s D r u m

The composer Mozart added the deep, booming, untuned sound of the bass drum to the orchestra in 1782. Constructed like a snare drum, but without snares, the bass drum is much larger and is played on its side, so that either head may be struck. The beater or mallet for a bass drum is large with a soft material such as sheep's wool covering the end.

Hear the Bass Drum

C y m b a l s

Made from two large, slightly concave brass plates, cymbals are fitted with leather hand straps and are shaped so that when they are crashed together, only the edges touch. Although cymbals are untuned instruments, different sized cymbals produce a wide range of sound effects. Some are so small that they are played with just the fingers. Cymbals are also played by being struck with drumsticks or mallets while suspended on a string or stand.

Hear the Cymbals

G o n g

A gong is an East Asian musical instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet and suspended vertically by means of a cord passing through holes near to the top rim. Gongs are made mainly from bronze or brass but there are many other alloys in use.

Hear the Gong