The Other Percussion Instruments (photo) (audio)

Cymbals
two thin, round, concave plates of copper-tin alloy that are clashed together or struck separately with beaters, producing a long-lasting sound of indeterminate pitch. Different kinds of cymbals include the large ride cymbal, the bright sounding crash cymal and the hi-hat (horizontally mounted pair of cymbals use in jazz)

Cymbals, used in religious ceremonies since ancient times, emerged in Europe during the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century). Small finger

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cymbals with a bell-like tone have also been known since antiquity.

Bells
Musical instrument made of metal in the shape of a hollow cup. Played by strikig it with a clapper or hammer fasten on the inside of the bell or on the outside rim of the bell. A bell's tone depends on its of height, width, thickness, and shape.

In ancient times, bells served as signaling devices and ritual objects. In the 6th century the use of bells in churches began in Europe. And in Eastern Christian churches

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during the 9th century. Early bells were made by metal hammered into the desired shaped until the discovery of the process of casting metal which made possible the the casting of large tuned bells.

In casting a bell, a core is made with clay, in the shape of the interior of the bell. A heavy outer shell is then built over the core. Molten bell metal is poured into the space between the core and the outer shell. After waiting for the metal to cool, the mold is opened. The exterior of the bell is then smoothed and polished And the interior surface of the bell is shaved to obtain the thicknesses appropriate for proper tuning.

Gong
A percussion instrument consisting of a bronze disk. A sound is produces when the disk is struck by a knobbed beater. Many gongs have a central dome and a turned-down rim ranging in size from deep to narrow. Gongs vibrate at their center.

From obscure origins in the Middle East or Southeast Asia, the gong became established in Indonesia in the 9th century. Reaching Europe by at least the 18th century, it is now standard in the orchestra.