Perkussion

Perkussion, in English percussion, refers to a broad family of musical instruments whose sound is produced primarily by being struck, shaken, scraped, or rubbed. The category spans idiophones, where the vibrating body itself produces the sound, and membranophones, where a vibrating membrane is the source. Some instruments blend characteristics or yield pitched sounds through their construction.

Common types include drums such as the bass drum and snare drum (membranophones), as well as cymbals and bells (idiophones). Pitched percussion played with mallets or sticks includes the xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, and glockenspiel, while timpani are large tunable drums. Untuned or semi-tuned percussion includes tambourine, triangle, congas, bongos, shakers, and hand claps. Percussion instruments may be played with hands, sticks, mallets, or electronic pads.

In music, percussion provides rhythm and texture, supports tempo, and delivers accents that shape musical phrases. It plays a central role in many genres, from orchestral ensembles to jazz and popular music. Drum kits combine several percussion functions for contemporary styles, while non-drum percussion often adds color and sonic character in orchestral, chamber, film, and world-music contexts.

Historically, percussion appears in many cultures for ceremonial, communicative, and practical purposes. In Western art music, standardized percussion sections developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the 20th century bringing expanded use of tuned percussion and the drum kit. Modern practice frequently incorporates electronic triggers and MIDI to augment acoustic percussion and expand sonic possibilities.