Nomenclature of Percussion Instruments

English Italian French German

Percussion Percussione Batterie Schlagzeug
[Battery] [Batteria; Strumenti a [Schlaginstrumente]
percossa]
Timpani Timpani Timbales Pauken
Kettle Drums
Bass Drum Gran cassa Grosse Caisse Grosse Trommel
Tamburo grosso
Tamburo grande
Military Drum Tamburo (militare) Tambour (militaire) Kleine Militärtrommel
Snare Drum Caisse claire Kleine Trommel
Side Drum
Small Side Drum Tamburo piccolo Petite caisse claire
Trap Drum Petit tambour
Tarolle
Tenor Drum Tamburo rullante Caisse roulante Rührtrommel
Parade Drum Cassa rullante
Tabor Tamburo Tambourin de Tambourin
Field Drum Provence
Long Drum Tambourin Provençal
Cymbals Piatti Cymbales (libres) Becken
Cinelli Cinellen
Zymbel
Suspended Cymbal Piatto (sospeso) Cymbale (suspendue) Becken (frei)
Hanging Cymbal Piatto oscillante Becken freihängend
Hung Cymbal Becken
Cymbal, free freischwingend
Turkish crash
Crash Cymbal Piatto chinoso Cymbale Chinoise Chinesische Zimbal
Chinese Cymbal
Antique Cymbals Cimbali antichi Cymbales antiques Antike Zimbeln
Finger Cymbals Crotales
Gong Tam-tam Tam-tam Tam-tam
Tam-tam
Tambourine Tamburino Tambour de Basque Tamburin
Hand Drum Tamburello Basco Schellentrommel
Tamburo Basco

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 Triangle Triangolo Triangle Triangel
Castanets Castagnette Castagnettes Kastagnetten

Chimes Campane Cloches Glocken

Tubular Chimes Campanelle Tubes Glockengeläute
Bells
Glockenspiel Campanelli Carillon Glockenspiel
Chime-Bells Campanetta Clochettes
Jeu de Timbres
Timbres
Xylophone Xy[i]lofono Xylophone Xylophon
Silofono Holzharmonika
Zilafono
Vibraphone Vibrafono Vibraphone Vibraphon
Vibraharp
Marimba Marimba Marimba Marimba

Auxillary Percussion Instruments

English Italian French German
Anvil [Steel bar, Pipe] Incudine Enclume Amboss
Auto [Taxi] Horn Corno di automobile Cor d'Auto Autohorn
Bird Whistle Gli Uccelli Sifflet d'oiseau Vogelpfeife
Bongos Bongos Bongos Bongos
Chains Catene Chaînes Kettern
Chinese Blocks Ceppi chinosi Blocs chinois Chinesische Blocke
[Drums]
Claves Claves Claves Claves
Cowbells Campanelli di vacca Grelots Heerdenglocken
Cowhorn Corno di vacca Ranz de vaches Stierhorn
Dulcimer Cembalon [Cimbalom] - Hackbrett
Guitar Chitarra [Guitarre] Guitare Gitarre
Harmonica [Mouth Armonica Harmonica Harmonika
Organ] [Mundharmonika]
Hi-Hat Hi-Hat Cymbales à pédale Becken mit
Fussmachine,
Fussbecken
Jew's Harp Scacciapensieri Guimbarde Brummeisen

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 Jingles Bubbolo Timbres Schelle
Jingle Johnny Mezzaluna - Schellenbaum
Mandoline Mandolino Mandoline Mandoline
Maracas Marache Maracas [Boîte à Maracas
clous]
Metal Block Cassa di metalo Bloc de Métal Metallkasten
Rasper [Güiro] Raspe Râpe Raspel
Ratchet Raganella Crécelle Ratsche, Knarre
Rattle [Ratchet] Raganella [Sistrum] Crécelle Klapper [Knarre;
Ratsche]
Sandpaper (blocks) Ceppi di carta vetro Blocs à papier de verre Sandpapierblocke
Siren Sirena Sirène Sirene
Slapstick [Whip] Frusta Fouet Peitsche
Sleighbells Sonagli Grelots Schelle
Slide Whistle Flauto a culisse Sifflet à coulisse Lotosflöte, Ziehpfeife
String Drum [Lion Rugghio di leone Tambour à corde Löwengebrill
Roar]
Switches Verghe(i) Verges Rute (Ruthe)
Temple Blocks - - -
Thunder-machine Machina di tuono Machine à tonnerre Donnermaschine
Thunder-sheet - - -
Wind-machine Machina a venti Machine à vent Windmaschine
Wood Blocks Casse di legno [Legno] Blocs de bois Holzkasten
[Holztrommel]
Zither Cytharra Cithare Zither

Resources:
Gardner Read, Thesaurus of Orchestral Devices
Peinkofer & Tannigel, Handbook of Percussion Instruments

Symphony Orchestra Library Center ™ www.orchestralibrary.com

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