Tamburo militare

As Printed on a Score

Labels the snare-drum line (Tamburo militare or Tamburo piccolo; Tamb. mil. or Tamb. milit. later), on a single line or space. Rolls are written as tremolo slashes or tr.; coperto (covered) asks for a muffled drum and senza corde for the snares released, until a new instruction restores the normal sound.

Abbreviations: Tamb. mil., Tamb. milit.

Also spelled: Tamburo piccolo

How Composers Use It

Literally “military drum”: a double-headed drum with snares across the lower head, giving the crisp rattle of march music. Rolls, flams and precise rhythms penetrate any texture, so a little goes a long way — though Ravel’s Boléro rests its whole span on one repeated snare-drum rhythm. For a darker, more distant sound ask for the drum covered (coperto) or the snares off; Mahler’s German equivalent is gedämpft.

Example

Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture, staff label: “Tamburo Militare”, abbreviated “Tamb. Milit.” on later systems.

Related Terms