Replies

Marbren: Is there any old hymn or well loved Christian music that incorporates off beat?

Nevadan: Great question. Yes, there are inumerable examples of Christian hymns and Gospel songs that utilize syncopation (accent of the off-beat). The syncopation may not be the predominant factor, but syncopation is used in every style of music I can think of. In the song, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”, that first part of that line “What a Friend” is syncopated, the next is “all our sins” is syncopated.

Syncopation is one of the things that creates rhythmic interest - it’s one of those things that moves you to tap your toe to a song.

Other examples where syncopation is more predominant are Spirituals, such as “Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door”, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho”, “Go Tell It On the Mountain”, and on and on.

marbren: The Bible talks about cymbals and tambourines, is that equivalent to drums?

Nevadan: I would say, yes. There are examples of ancient instruments found at archeological sights. I’ve never googled it, but you could probably find sites that have photos of some of these artifacts. Some of the pictures I have seen in books about this subject show instruments that are pretty close to what we would describe as tambourines and drums. I honestly don’t remember if I saw anything resembling a cymbal. Percussion instruments were utilitzed, but we don’t always know in what way. However, you must remember that Bible translators are not always quite sure that these words are equivalent to modern day instruments.

marbren: Is there anything to the thought I have that we “beat” drums vs strumming guitars and blowing in flutes and trumpets?

Nevadan: Percussion instruments are any instrument that is hit with a mallet, strummed, scraped, or shaken in order to make is “sound”. Examples are: drums, xylophones, tambourines, maracas, guitar, banjo, even a piano (the felt hammers inside the piano “strike” the strings and thus the piano is considered a percussion instrument).

Woodwind or brass instruments are all sounded by blowing air into the instrument, so yes, flutes, clarients, trumpets, oboes, french horns, etc. all work by blowing into them.

marbren: When was the first drum set produced?

Nevadan: Wow, If you mean “when was first what we think of as a modern drum set produced”? I just don’t know. You could probably google the history of the drum set and come up with that. My best guess is that the modern version of a drum set developed around the early 1900’s when “ragtime” music and “jazz” music began to be developed. I’ve seen pictures of bands that have a drummer sitting behind a bass drum with a snare drum and a cymbal. Nothing fancy like today, but pretty similar.

marbren: When was “The Little Drummer Boy” written?

Nevadan: I think it was written in the 1950’s by a gentleman named Harry Simone (sp?). That is a lovely song, isn’t it?

marbren: Is it volume, drums or rock off beat that kills plants in the article?

Nevadan: To be honest, I didn’t get that far into the article, but I would venture to guess that it would be the volume that would bother plants. I know that’s what bothers me about morons blasting hip hop in their car stereos - you can hear/feel the bass a block away.

I have read about some studies that say classical music helped plants grow more lush, but I don’t know what volume they played the music at. Sound waves produce a definite phyiscal sensation - the louder it is, the more harmful to the ear - and this is probably true no matter what style of music is played. Just turn the “1812 Overture” up to ten and see what I mean. You could blast out any hip hop/rock music with that (it utilizes cannon blasts at the end).

I would say that the worst thing about rock music is the volume. It doesn’t have to be played at ear-splitting volume, but that seems to be what most performers do.