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A clapper is a basic form of percussion instrument. It consists of two long solid pieces that are struck together producing sound. 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 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'', Japanese '' hyoshigi'', or the Korean ''bak''. In the classical music of Thailand, a similar instrument is called ''krap''. In India cooking tongs or ''cimṭā'' are often used to provide rhythm while singing religious hymns in many areas (sometimes tongs made specifically for the purpose are also equipped with bells). In Vietnam, the coin clapper called '' 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 (also called slapstick) is occasionally used in the percussion section.

Whip/slapstick

In music, a whip or slapstick is a clapper (percussion instrument) 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. 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.

Gallery

File:David, Musée du Louvre Objets d'art MR 370.jpg, Circa 795 A.D. David playing the harp, accompanied by a plucked fiddle and clappers. Germany or France. Clappers from the Carolingian Empire appear to have been disks or possibly chimes attached to sticks.
File:Utrechts-Psalter PSALM-149-PSALM-150 Psaltery and cymbols.jpg, Circa 850 A.D. Musicians in the Utrecht Psalter holding a lyre and clappers.
File:Aeman holding clappers in the Charles the Bald Bible, illustrated by Master C.jpg, 9th century A.D. Aeotan holding clappers in the Charles the Bald Bible.
File:Cancioneiro da Ajuda, folio 59, musicians with psaltery and clappers.jpg, 13th century Spain. Clappers raised overhead in a miniature in the Cancioneiro da Ajuda, folio 59
File:Crusader Bible (MS M.638, fol. 39r) cropped for cliqettes.jpg, Circa 1250 A.D. Crusader Bible (MS M.638, fol. 39r) cropped for cliquettes. Also a bell and a clarinet.
File:Cantiga 330 Cantigas de santa maria.jpg, 1280 A.D. Cliquettes or clappers (in the woman's hands) from the Musician's Codex, Cantigas de Santa Maria.
File:Miriam, the golden Haggadah.jpg, 1320 A.D., Barcelona. Image from the Golden Haggadah. Image has cymbals, clappers, a lute and a tambourine.
File:Clapper with the shape of a human hand. Probably elephant ivory. From Gurob, Fayum, Egypt. 18th Dynasty. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London.jpg, Clapper with the shape of a human hand. Probably elephant ivory. From Gurob, Fayum, Egypt. 18th Dynasty. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

See also

* Bamboo clapper
*Crotalus (instrument)
*Paiban
*Scabellum, an ancient Greek and Roman foot-clapper on the sole of a sandal
* Thattai (instrument), an Indian and Nepalese clapper
*Torres Strait Islanders

References

Further reading

*"Clapper." ''Encyclopædia Britannica''.

External links

Clappers (''Polish folk musical instruments'')

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Plaque concussion idiophones
Hand percussion
Orchestral percussion instruments
Unpitched percussion instruments
Concert band instruments