Playable BooksCecil Forsyth · section 7 of 60
No. 3. The Tenor-Drum
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Fr. Caisse roulante; It. Tamburo rullante; Ger. Wirbeltrommel, Rolltrommel,
or Rührtrommel.
This is a Drum midway in size between the Side-Drum and the Bass-Drum. Its shell is generally cylindrical in shape, tairly long, and made of ash-wood. There are no snares. In form and musical effect it is probably the most ancient and universal of all Drums.
The quality of the Tenor-Drum, especially when used indoors, is curiously impressive; its flavour sombre and antique. Gluck? and Wagner? have both written for the instrument. It might with advantage be more often used in the Concert-Room.
1In Preciosa and the Ruins of Athens respectively.
In Iphigénie en Tauride and in Die Walküre and Parsifal. In the concert-room arrangement of the Ride of the Valkyries the Kleine Trommel (Side-Drum) is substituted in the Score without sufficient reason..
Out of doors one such Drum is used in the "Drums and Fifes" of all British infantry regiments, but here its tone cannot as a rule make much effect, particularly when pitted against a full corps of Side-drummers. This is a matter of "balance' however, and not due to any deficiency in the Drum itself. In the Episode of Henry V's Funeral at the English Church Pageant of 1909 these Tenor-Drums had a surprising eflect. A deep bell was struck every 15 seconds. This was followed immediately by a short heavy "roll" for three or four Tenor-Drums. The combination of Bell and Tenor-Drums was continued as a sort of ostinato throughout the entire Episode. the same time a large number of Male voices sang the Dies Irae in procession, while the orchestral Brass played an independent but simultaneous Requiem pianissimo.