The rototom is a shell-less drum developed by Al Payson and Michael Colgrass that is able to change pitch by rotating its drumhead around a threaded metal ring. Unlike many types of drums, rototoms are designed to have a variable definite pitch leading composers to write specific notes for them as pitched percussion instruments . They are also often used to extend the tom range of a standard drum kit .
17-570: Rototoms can be tuned quickly by rotating the drumhead, which sits in a threaded metal ring. Rotation raises or lowers the tension hoop relative to the rim, which increases or decreases the pitch of the drum by increasing or decreasing the tension of the drumhead. Drum company Remo has historically offered rototoms in seven diameters: 6 inches (15 cm), 8 inches (20 cm), 10 inches (25 cm), 12 inches (30 cm), 14 inches (36 cm), 16 inches (41 cm), and 18 inches (46 cm). However, as of 2023, Remo only offers rototoms ranging from
34-413: A 6 to 10 inch diameter as part of a set that includes a mounting rail and stand. All other sizes have been discontinued. Each one is tunable over an octave's range or more, although the company notes that the practical range is approximately a sixth . Rototoms can replace more specialized drums such as tenor timpani owing to their clear, pitched nature. Jazz, rock and studio performers use rototoms both as
51-443: A concept for the design and manufacture of a functional bass drum pedal . The company added new products to its catalog, such as snare drums and timpani , in 1916. In 1917, Ludwig signed a deal to build rope-tensioned snare drums to support World War I . Theobald Ludwig died in 1918, and William continued on his own. In the late 1920s, the company was sold to the C. G. Conn instrument company. William Ludwig stayed on to run
68-627: A product called "FIBERSKYN", which is currently on its third version. Remo Belli died on April 25, 2016. Remo supplies drumheads for various drum companies including Pearl , DW Drums , Yamaha , Mapex , Pork Pie Percussion , Tama drums , Ludwig drums , Gretsch Drums and Sonor . Remo has factories in the US and in Taiwan, where the "UT" and "US" versions are made. Remo sponsors the Rose Parade 's annual Bandfest shows, which are held annually at
85-399: A small scale for the duration of World War II , but William got back to the idea of making the company a large drum manufacturer after the war ended. WFL was a competitor with Ludwig and Ludwig. Conn combined their two drum brands into one in the early 1950s, forming Leedy & Ludwig, and then decided to quit the drum business altogether. In 1955, William and his son Bill Jr. were able to buy
102-419: A solo voice and as conventional tom-toms; they can be rapidly tuned to produce glissando effects and can be arrayed for a virtual percussion keyboard. For concert and marching band programs, rototoms combine rapid tuning with portability and sound quality, working both as concert tom-toms and as practice timpani. For stage bands and jazz ensembles , drum kits are fitted out with batter heads. When tuned to
119-482: A total of 38 rototoms— tuned chromatically, spanning across three octaves— in his last large-scale orchestral work, The Rose Lake (1993), based on a lake he spotted suddenly transforming from light green to translucent pink while on holiday in Senegal. In 1979, percussionist William Kraft published Encounters VI , a concertino for rototoms and percussion quartet. Official website Remo Remo Inc.
136-532: Is an American musical instruments manufacturing company based in Valencia, California , and founded by Remo Belli in 1957. Products manufactured include drum kits , drumheads , drums , and hardware , and various percussion instruments. Drummer and founder Remo D. Belli experimented with PET film as a possible material for the production of drumheads after World War II due to its consistency in tonal qualities and resistance to weather changes. Throughout
153-642: The Ludwig-Musser brand. The Ludwig Drum Company was established in 1909 by William F. & Theobald Ludwig, sons of a German immigrant to the United States. William Jr. had been a professional drummer, playing with circuses and touring vaudeville shows, along with the occasional skating-rink gig. Since this work was irregular, he and his brother, Theobald, opened a drum shop in Chicago ; they called it Ludwig & Ludwig. The company started with
170-549: The 1960s, it was a fight to gain market acceptance, as purist jazzmen preferred the sound of natural calfskin. However, these calfskin drumheads had to be frequently tuned with weather fluctuations. Remo Belli created convenience for professional drummers when he pioneered the use of Mylar , a synthetic polyester film for drumheads. Originally, the drumheads were white and opaque to help mimic the look of calfskin. Later innovations were clear drumheads, two-ply drumheads (for added durability and depth), and simulated natural drumheads with
187-520: The Ludwig trademark back from Conn, and over the next few years their company and its products transitioned from the WFL brand to being called "Ludwig" again. Despite initial success, Ludwig's global breakthrough would occur February 9, 1964, when The Beatles made their historic American TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show . The Ludwig logo, displayed on the front of Ringo Starr's bass drum, could be seen by
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#1732791858651204-517: The company for Conn (which also owned the Leedy Manufacturing Company at this time). Eventually, William Ludwig decided to leave Conn and start a new company of his own. He was unable to use the Ludwig name since that trademark now belonged to Conn who continued to market Ludwig & Ludwig drums. In 1937, William bought a factory building and started The WFL Drum Company (his initials). The company continued producing drums at
221-729: The end of December to showcase the bands participating in the New Year's Day parade in Pasadena, California . Bandfest is held at Pasadena City College 's Mack and Jackie Robinson Stadium, which is named for its alumni Mack and Jackie Robinson . Ludwig drums Ludwig Drums is a United States musical instrument manufacturer, focused on percussion . It is a subsidiary of Conn-Selmer . Products manufactured by Ludwig include timpani , drum kits , and drum hardware . The company also makes keyboard percussion instruments , such as marimbas , vibraphones , and xylophones , through
238-627: The mid-range, they have an indefinite pitch with fewer harmonic overtones than conventional tom-toms; tuned to the high range, they produce a sound not unlike timbales . Rototoms can assist students in ear training and in developing their timpani techniques and— because of their portability, storability and relatively low cost— are often used by professional performers as practice instruments. They are also used as definite-pitched instruments in elementary music programs, such as Orff Schulwerk , where their sound quality, pitch stability and rapid tuning are assets. English composer Michael Tippett used
255-399: The television audience of about seventy-three million people. As it happens, Starr chose that brand upon joining the band simply because he liked the oyster pearl black color of the drum kit he chose. [Ringo Starr] put our name on the front of his bass drum head ... [because] he was so proud that he had an imported drum set from America, especially from a famous company like Ludwig, that at
272-575: The time of purchase he insisted on having the Ludwig name painted on the front of the head! The publicity resulted in Ludwig's sales doubling quickly to $ 13 million, which prompted production to increase to a 24/7 production as the company became the foremost drum manufacturer in North America for twenty years. Ludwig acquired the Musser Mallet Company, a manufacturer of xylophones , marimbas and vibraphones , in 1965. Ludwig
289-525: Was a strong presence in the marching drum market. During the 1970s, Ludwig's "Challenger" line of snare drums offered sophisticated tuning and strong build quality. Ludwig drums were used by many leading drum and bugle corps. On 4 November 1981, William F Ludwig II sold the business to the Selmer Company (now Conn-Selmer ). Selmer closed the Damen Avenue factory in the ensuing years and moved
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