The ocean drum is a
percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...
that emulates the sounds of the
ocean
The ocean is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of Earth. The ocean is conventionally divided into large bodies of water, which are also referred to as ''oceans'' (the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Indian, Southern Ocean ...
, invented by
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithology, ornithologist. One of the major composers of the 20th-century classical music, 20th century, he was also an ou ...
in 1972.
History
The ocean drum was originally called the
geophone
A geophone is a device that converts ground movement (velocity) into voltage, which may be recorded at a recording station. The Standard deviation, deviation of this measured voltage from the base line is called the seismic response and is analy ...
. It was invented by composer and ornithologist
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithology, ornithologist. One of the major composers of the 20th-century classical music, 20th century, he was also an ou ...
for his orchestral piece
''Des canyons aux étoiles...'' in 1972, inspired by the Native American
water drum
Water drums are a category of membranophone characterized by the filling of the drum chamber with some amount of water to create a unique resonant sound. Water drums are used all over the world, but are found most prominently in a ceremonial as w ...
.
The first prototype of the 'geophone' was constructed by a Parisian instrument maker. Soon after, the instrument began gaining more renown and is now commonly known by the term ''ocean drum''.
The geophone was originally designed to replicate the sounds of dry and shifting earth; only later being applied to the sounds of the ocean.
Playing
The ocean drum is held by the frame, with the heads horizontal, and played by rolling the wrists so the drum gently tilts in all directions. The metal beads inside roll over the bottom head like
water
Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...
rolling over the shore.
Different speeds produce different sounds. Stopping and starting suddenly creates crashing wave sounds.The ocean drum can be used in Buddhist meditation.
See also
*
Water drum
Water drums are a category of membranophone characterized by the filling of the drum chamber with some amount of water to create a unique resonant sound. Water drums are used all over the world, but are found most prominently in a ceremonial as w ...
*
Hydraulophone
A hydraulophone is a Tonality, tonal acoustic musical instrument played by direct physical contact with water (sometimes other fluids) where sound is generated or affected hydraulics, hydraulically."Fluid Melodies: The hydraulophones of Professo ...
*
Geophone
A geophone is a device that converts ground movement (velocity) into voltage, which may be recorded at a recording station. The Standard deviation, deviation of this measured voltage from the base line is called the seismic response and is analy ...
*
Rainstick
A rainstick is a long, hollow tube of bamboo or dried cactus that is partially flooded with small pebbles, rice, dried beans, or other hard granular matter. The inside surface of the tube has small pins or thorns arranged helically. When the st ...
References
External links
*
How to create the Ocean Drum
{{Authority control
European percussion instruments
French musical instruments
Olivier Messiaen
Drums
20th-century percussion instruments