An evocative term suitable for hearing the effects of changeable weather, this is a lesser known word for a musical instrument used to recreate the sound of thunder. But how? And who uses it? The artificial sound of thunder seems to created by two primary methods, via the sheet or by the tube.
The thundersheet was thought to have been first devised by Dramatist John Dennis (1658 – 1734) to produce theatrical thunder for his tragedy Appius and Virginia at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. Generally made from any thin scrap metal, that material is key to the sound, not to be confused with wobble board, made plastic or thick card. The crash of lightning is meanwhile made by a cymbal.
To make an authentic thunder effect, the sheet needs to be shaken a few seconds before the actual sound comes out. Here’s a modern version demonstrated from a steel sheet that can also summon a variety of extraordinarily eerie, shrill sounds as well as thunderous ones.
This one, a string handle, is more in the form of bell plate:
Another type is the thunder tube, also known as a empty drum or wide tube with string mounted in the middle of it, as demonstrated here:
Or here:
This percussive musical instrument has been variously used in classical music, made popular by composers including the early 20th century Polish composer Ignace Paderewski, in his grandly romantic Symphony Op. 24, Polonia, as well as before that, Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie and his opera Die Frau ohne Schatten, Verdi’s Otello, Wagner’s operatic cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal, Mozart's Magic Flute, and later 20th century American composer Alan Hovhaness's Invocation to Vahakn No. 3:
There are alternative ways to evoke thunder, such striking a gong, or using Castle thunder, a recorded sound effect used across many films and songs. Here then is small playlist of songs featuring the sound of thunder, but are they all effects, or to any use a form of tonitruone?
The Ronettes – Walking In The Rain
The Beach Boys - Diamond Head
The Cascades - The Rhythm of the Rain
The Doors – Riders Of The Storm
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
The Who - Love Reign O'er Me
Matthew Sweet - Thunderstorm
So then any more examples of tonitruone sounds on songs rolling in? Please feel free to share any further examples in songs, instrumentals, on albums, film, art or other contexts in comments below.
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