Percussion instruments are, without a doubt, the most versatile, as they can be used in almost any genre. The snare drum is the most adaptable of all percussion instruments. As a result, snare drum music is divided into several categories, including small band, marching band, orchestra and concert band, solo and small ensemble.
Small band music is one type of snare drum music. This music could be classified as rock, pop, or even jazz. The snare drum is part of a larger drumset in this capacity. The snare drum is used the drummer to create a backbeat pattern that is part of the larger drumset rhythm.
Some snare drum music is meant to be marched to. The snare drum plays a similar role in marching music as it does in small band music, laying the groundwork for the music’s rhythmic pattern. Marching snare music, on the other hand, can be much more complex because the drummer can concentrate solely on the snare drum rather than the entire set. In fact, marching snare music frequently emphasizes the drummer’s technical abilities and showmanship, with snare line members coordinating their steps and sticking patterns for visual effect. In drum and bugle corps, this is especially true.
Music for concert band or orchestra is the next type of snare drum music. The music for these ensembles is usually written so that the snare drum contributes to the overall sound. The snare, for example, can do a traditional roll to “beef up” or guide the intensity of a volume increase, or “hits” to make the orchestra’s accents more effective. The fourth movement of Nikolai Rimsky-symphonic Korsakov’s suite “Scheherazade” is an example.
In some cases, the snare music of orchestras and concert bands takes on a soloistic role. In the opening of Sergei Prokofiev’s “Lieutenant Kijé,” for example, the music calls for the snare drum to play a military-style solo at a low dynamic level. Similarly, in Maurice Ravel’s “Boléro,” the snare drum is required to play the same two measures throughout the piece. The intensity of the snare drum guides the orchestra to increase in volume throughout the piece, so the drummer must have extreme control.
Some snare drum music is made specifically for solo performance. This music is used to demonstrate drummer technique and improve skill. Solo snare drum pieces are commonly used drummers to audition for orchestra, band, and other ensemble positions.
Small ensemble music is the last type of snare drum music. This is orchestrated music for several players that does not fall under the category of small band music. For example, a snare drum quartet could be formed, or a snare player could perform with marimba and tumbadoras (congas). The ensemble does not have to be entirely made up of percussionists, and this type of music is not restricted to a single genre, though it is best classified as classical in general.