As a percussionist, it’s easy to see the instruments on your score and think nothing of their

significance in sound quality and practical properties. All of the instruments sound good to a
percussionist after all. And the practicality of them, well that’s just a given, isn’t it? In my
curiosity I searched for the development of these instruments which I am now so familiar
with and why they now occupy such space in Western Art Music ensembles specifically. The
orchestra is such a specific environment in itself, so why are these instruments in that
environment? I will be presenting my findings on the history of specifically the snare drum,
timpani and keyboard/mallet percussion and why they have ended up where they are.