Kleine Trommel

As Printed on a Score

The German name on snare-drum staves (Kleine Trommel; Kl. Tr. later), on a single line. Rolls are written as tremolo or tr.; gedämpft (muffled), often repeated in parentheses as a reminder, stays in force until the part says otherwise.

Abbreviations: Kl. Tr., Kl. Trommel, Kl.Tr., Kl. Tromm.

How Composers Use It

The same instrument as the side drum or tamburo militare: snares across the lower head give the crisp rattle of march music. In German scores say whether you want the snares on or off (mit or ohne Schnarrsaiten) and whether the drum is muffled (gedämpft), which turns the military rattle darker and more distant. Its rolls carry over the full orchestra, so it needs no doubling to be heard.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, first movement (Trauermarsch), staff label: “Kleine Trommel.”, shortened to “Kl. Tr.” — a part marked “gedämpft” (muffled) again and again through the funeral march.

Related Terms