The Tambourine - Percussion Instruments

The tambourine is a percussion instrument consisting of a frame, commonly made of wood or plastic, paired with metal jingles called "zills." These sit on the frame's outer edge. The instrument may or may not include a drumhead; in most cases, it has a circular form.

The tambourine's origin is unknown. However, according to historical texts, ancient artists in West Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Greece, and India used it as early as 1700 BC. Merchants and musicians brought the instrument to Europe.

Tambourines appeared first as such in ancient Egypt. Hebrews knew them as the "tof" and primarily used them in religious settings. The term tambourine comes from the French "tambourin," which refers to a long, thin drum used in Provence and is a diminutive of tambour, meaning drum.

Women were also the primary tambourine players in several early cultures. This instrument also appeared in processions, celebrations, funerals, and accompanying dances. Although the instrument's size and the jingles' shape have changed throughout the years, the construction has always stayed the same. For instance, the Greek and Roman tambourines looked remarkably similar to the modern designs of the instrument. The tambourine was initially known as the "tymbre" in medieval Britain and then as the "tabret" or "timbrel" until the 18th century.

The tambourine's popularity as a folk instrument never waned in France, Spain, or southern Italy. The instrument's admittance into the orchestra happened around the mid-18th century by Janissary music, which enjoyed huge popularity at the courts of European princes. This brought the tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, and triangle to the attention of a wider audience. In his incidental music for Preziosa (1821), Carl Maria von Weber employed the tambourine to represent gypsy life. Aside from that, people associate the tambourine with folk music, dance, and Spanish flair since George Bizet's Carmen (1875).

Construction of the Tambourine

The head of the tambourine sits fixed or glued to the shell's exterior or stretched over a flesh hoop and secured with a counter hoop, like on other orchestral drums. Oval holes are regularly set into the 5–7 cm deep shell. Each hosts a pair of sheet brass jingles fastened with a wire pin. The jingles are five centimeters long, cymbal-shaped, and have slightly turned-up rims. The shell usually hosts a wood grip for holding the instrument. Unlike cylindrical drums, the tambourine has no mechanism for tuning the head. The jingles mask the sound of striking the skull, so there is no real need to tune the instrument. Warming the head tightens it.

To play single beats, the musician holds the tambourine in one hand and strikes the head with the other. To strike, one generally uses the middle or index fingers, both supported by the thumb. The striking location is roughly 3–4 cm from the edge of the head, opposite the holding hand. The closer the performer strikes the head, the softer the desired tone.