Whip
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The Orchestral Whip consists of two strips of hardwood, hinged at the bottom. To produce a loud, convincing whiplike crack, you quickly flick the wooden slats together. Theater drummers use the whip to provide the sound of a slap in slapstick comedy. The instrument has a more serious role in orchestral music.
| Family |
| Percussions |
| Pitch range |
| None. |
| Material |
| Wood. |
| Size |
| Variable, but usually around 12-24 in (30-60 cm) long. |
| Origins |
| The whip itself was devised as an instrument for orchestral use in the 19th century because a genuine animal whip would be far too dangerous to crack in the orchestra. |
| Classification |
| Idiophone: an instrument that produces its sound through the use of the material from which it is made, without needing strings or a stretched skin. |
| And also... |
| Whip-cracking, employing real animal whips, takes place in certain countries of Eastern Europe around New Year, in a symbolic gesture to help drive away winter. |
