DE mit Ruten percussion technique advanced Support my free tools
How is mit Ruten played?
Use the rod bundle specified or appropriate to the instrument. Traditional Ruten were tied switches or birch twigs; modern rods commonly bind several wood, bamboo or synthetic dowels into a stick-like handle. The multiple contact points spread the attack and add a dry, noisy component, but construction, surface, force and stroke determine how soft, sharp or sustained it is. Ruten occur on drums, cymbals and other percussion; they are not identical to wire brushes and do not automatically prescribe sweeping, one dynamic or one rhythm.
How does mit Ruten sound?
A spread, slightly diffuse, brushy-yet-woody slap, between a clean stick stroke and the wash of brushes.
In context
The Rute belongs to a historical bundled-switch family associated with eighteenth-century Janissary colour, including Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, while Mahler later used it colouristically; modern rods continue the principle with bundled dowels. These historical and modern forms are implement choices, not notation for a particular rhythm. No exact abbreviation of the complete plural phrase met the three-source rule, so mit Ruten remains written out.
Equivalent terms
- DA med ruter
- DA med rods
- DA med bundtstikker