A clapper is a basic form of
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
instrument. It consists of two long solid pieces that are struck together producing sound. A straightforward instrument to produce and play, they exist in many forms in many different cultures around the world. Clappers can take a number of forms and be made of a wide variety of material. Wood is most common, but metal and ivory have also been used. The plastic
thundersticks
Thundersticks, sometimes known as bambams, are long, narrow plastic balloons that are used as promotional noise makers. The noise is created when two thundersticks are struck together. They are most often used at sporting events.
Origin and p ...
that have recently come to be popular at sporting events can be considered a form of inflated plastic clapper.
Several specific forms of clapper have their own names, such as the Chinese ''
guban
The Guban ( so, Guban, 'burnt' or 'burned') is the indigenous name for northwestern Somaliland
Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhū ...
'', Japanese ''
hyoshigi'', or the Korean ''
bak''. In the classical music of Thailand, a similar instrument is called ''
krap
KRAP (1350 AM broadcasting, AM) is a radio station licensed to Washington, Missouri.
Station and programming
Originally put on the air by then-owner Ken Kuenzie as KSLQ in 1985, the station changed its callsign to KWMO in July 1998 under the ne ...
''. In India cooking tongs or चिमटा itself is often used to provide rhythm while singing religious hymns in many cultures (sometimes tongs made specifically for the purpose are also equipped with bell
In Vietnam, the coin clapper called ''
Sênh tiền, sinh tiền'' is widely used. In medieval French music, clappers called ''tablettes'' or ''cliquettes'' were used. In the Western symphony orchestra, a clapper called the
whip
A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
(also called slapstick) is occasionally used in the percussion section.
Whip/slapstick
In music, a whip or slapstick is a clapper (
percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
) consisting of two wooden boards joined by a hinge at one end. When the boards are brought together rapidly, the sound produces a sound reminiscent of the crack of a
whip
A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
. It is often used in modern orchestras, bands, and percussion ensembles.
There are two types of whips. The first has two planks of wood connected by a hinge, with a handle on each. The percussionist holds the instrument by the handles and hits the two pieces of wood together, creating a loud whip noise. The other type also has two planks of wood, one longer than the other, with one handle, connected with a spring hinge so it can be played with just one hand, though it cannot produce sounds as loud as a whip requiring both hands. This second type of whip is technically a separate instrument called a ''slapstick''.
Usage in classical music
The whip is sometimes indicated in scores by the native words for "whip" (French ''fouet'', German ''Peitsche'', or Italian ''frusta'') or a term indicating the clapper construction (French ''claquette'' or German ''Holzklapper'').
This list is alphabetical, but is by no means exhaustive.
See also
*
Bamboo clapper
Bamboo clappers are a traditional Chinese percussion instrument and a traditional Burmese instrument. Reflecting its name, it is made with boards of bamboo. Bamboo clappers are used in Chinese ''kuaiban'' storytelling performances.
See also
* ...
*
Paiban
The ''paiban'' () is a clapper made from several flat pieces of hardwood or bamboo (or, formerly, sometimes also ivory or metal), which is used in many different forms of Chinese music. There are many different types of ''paiban'', and the instr ...
*
Scabellum
A scabellum, Latin word from ancient Greek ''krupalon'' or ''krupezon'', is a percussion instrument, a kind of Clapper used in ancient Rome and Greece.
It is worn like a sandal by the right foot, used in antiquity by the conductor or by the au ...
, an ancient Greek and Roman foot-clapper on the sole of a sandal
*
Thattai (instrument)
The thattai (Tamil: தட்டை) is an Indian percussion instrument, a type of clapper belonging to the idiophone
An idiophone is any musical instrument that creates sound primarily by the vibration of the instrument itself, without t ...
, an Indian and Nepalese clapper
*
Torres Strait Islanders
Torres Strait Islanders () are the Indigenous Melanesian people of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. Ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal people of the rest of Australia, they are often grouped ...
References
Further reading
*"Clapper." ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.
External links
Clappers (''Polish folk musical instruments'')
{{Authority control
Plaque concussion idiophones
Hand percussion
Orchestral percussion
Unpitched percussion instruments