ЕVOLUTION OF PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS IN WORLD MUSICAL ART: FROM ARCHAIC FORMS TO MODERNITY

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the evolution of percussion instruments in the world musical tradition, traced from archaic forms to modern times. Percussion instruments, as some of the most ancient means of musical communication, played a multifunctional role: from ritual-magical and ceremonial to military-signal and entertaining. In primitive cultures, they served as a kind of mediator between humans and nature, emphasized the rhythmic organization of collective rituals, and ensured the unity of the community within the sacred space.In the era of Antiquity and the Middle Ages, percussion instruments gradually integrated into secular music-making, enriching the musical texture of theatrical and court performances. The gradual complication of their construction and performance techniques contributed to the formation of new functions – from accent-rhythmic to coloristic-expressive. Considerable attention is paid to the development of percussion instruments in the European professional tradition of the Renaissance and Baroque, when they began to be included in military orchestras and theatrical ensembles, acquiring importance in shaping a new artistic sound.In the 19th century, significant progress took place in the development of percussion instruments, which became a full-fledged component of the symphony orchestra, expanding its timbral and dramaturgical possibilities. In the 20th century, experiment came to the fore – composers and performers actively applied extended techniques, created new types of percussion instruments, and integrated them into jazz, rock, pop, and electronic music. This period demonstrated the universality and adaptability of percussion instruments, as well as their ability to interact with any musical system.Modern performing practices combine acoustic and electronic instruments, applying innovative technologies of sampling, synthesis, and percussion programming. The article emphasizes the importance of regional traditions – Eastern, African, Latin American, and European – which significantly influenced the formation of the global musical space. An analysis of the main tendencies is carried out: from the growth of technical complexity to the expansion of genre and cultural aspects.In conclusion, it is stated that percussion instruments in the 21st century have emerged as a universal means of musical expression, integrating tradition and innovation, acoustic and digital sound, professional art and mass culture, reflecting the dynamics of cultural processes in a globalized world.