Contextual Associations

The jingle ring is a shaken concussion idiophone. This alternate form of the tambourine, by which name it is often also called, has no membrane--and is therefore not a drum. It is used as an auxiliary percussion instrument, mostly in contemporary popular music styles but also called for in percussion ensemble music. No specialization is needed to play it.

Description

The jingle ring consists of sixteen small cymbal pairs mounted loosely in a modified circular frame (with an in-turning section that serves as a handle) made from molded plastic. The cymbal pairs are made from nickel sheet metal stamped into contoured discs that are mounted with pins so that their open faces face one another.

Player - Instrument Interface and Sound Production

The player holds the instrument frame by its handle with one hand, either shaking the frame or striking it against the palm of his/her other hand. 

Origins/History/Evolution

Jingle rings appear in Medieval European iconographic sources, and an illustration of one appears in Praetorius’ 1619 treatise on musical instruments. Often described as a tambourine without a membrane head, the origin of the jingle ring very likely is with that instrument.
 

Bibliographic Citations

Blades, James. 1970. Percussion Instruments and Their History. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Publishers.

Holland, James. 2005. Practical Percussion. Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press.