PERCUSSION

Baroque period composers very rarely utilized percussion instruments,but instruments were used. It would seem that certain percussion instruments would be associated with ballet and dance music. Drums certainly figured amongst the instruments in marches with oboes, and they were by definition associated with military music. The only percussion instruments for which separate parts were written were the timpani (played in pairs, tuned to tonic key). They were played on horseback when used in military music, one drum being placed on sides of the horse. In various works by J.S. Bach the timpani were an indispensable complement to the trumpets.