Crotales

Crotales, sometimes called antique cymbals, are percussion instruments made from small, tuned bronze or brass disks. Each disk is about 10 cm (4 in) in diameter and has a flat top with a nipple on the bottom. People usually play crotales by hitting them with hard mallets, but they can also be played by striking two disks together like finger cymbals or by using a bow. The sound of crotales is similar to a small tuned bell but much brighter and with a longer resonance.

The name crotales comes from the Greek word crotalon, which refers to a castanet or rattle. Modern crotales are arranged chromatically and can cover a range of up to two octaves. They are often sold in sets that include one octave but can also be bought individually. When writing music for crotales, it is usually written two octaves lower than the actual pitch they produce, making it easier to read on musical notation without too many extra lines.

Uses

Crotales have been used in many musical pieces. One of the first times they were used in an orchestra was in Hector Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette from 1839. Other famous composers like Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and Henri Dutilleux also used them in their music.

Today, crotales are used in many types of music, including rock. Musicians like Neil Peart from Rush and Alan White from Yes have used them in their songs. Other groups such as The Bengsons and Wilco also include crotales in their performances.