Gran cassa

As Printed on a Score

Labels the bass drum (Gran cassa, Grancassa or just Cassa; Gr. C. or G.C. later), written on a single line or on one pitch in bass clef. It often shares a staff with the cymbals (Piatti e Gran cassa), with stems or small labels telling which notes belong to which instrument; only rhythm and dynamics matter, since it has no definite pitch.

Abbreviations: Gr. C., Gr. Cassa, G.C., Gr.C., Gr. cassa

Also spelled: Grancassa, Cassa, Cassa grande

How Composers Use It

No pitch, but enormous low weight: a single stroke can underpin a climax, and a soft roll with soft beaters gives distant thunder. The sound blooms and lingers, so mark a damping instruction (secco, or étouffé in French scores) when you want short strokes. In Classical and Romantic scores it often doubles the cymbals on the same beats in the manner of the Turkish band, as in the march of Beethoven’s Ninth finale.

Example

Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture, staff label: “Gran Cassa”, shortened to “G. C.” on later systems, below the staves labelled “Piatti” and “Tamburo Militare”.

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