Editing Front ensemble (section)

{{Short description|Stationary percussion section of a marching ensemble}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
[[File:Front ensemble of the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.webp|thumb|The front ensemble of the [[United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps]] during the [[Sunset Parade]]]]
In a [[marching band]], [[Drum and bugle corps (modern)|drum and bugle corps]], or [[indoor percussion ensemble]], the '''front ensemble''' or '''pit''' is the stationary [[percussion instrument|percussion]] ensemble. This ensemble is typically placed in front of the [[American football field|football field]], though some designers may use atypical layouts (such as having the front ensemble split into pods on the field). Some high school marching bands opt not to march any percussion instruments but instead have a "full" front ensemble.  

Originally, the front ensemble consisted of [[Keyboard percussion instrument|keyboard percussion]] and [[timpani]], the marching versions of which are heavy and awkward. Groups began adding more and more traditional percussion instruments to the pit, and in its modern form, the ensemble may contain any type of percussion instrument.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Casella |first1=Jim |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/61265698 |title=Up Front : A Complete Resource for Today's Pit Ensemble |last2=Ancona |first2=Jim|publisher=Tapspace |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-9764344-2-9 |pages=10–22 |oclc=61265698}}</ref> 

The main emphasis of the front ensemble are the mallet instruments: [[marimba]], [[vibraphone]], [[glockenspiel]], [[Tubular bells|chimes]], [[crotales]], and [[xylophone]]. Some marching band circuits also allow non-standard instruments (such as the [[violin]]) or [[Electronic musical instrument|electronic instruments]] (such as [[synthesizer]]s and [[bass guitar]]s) in the pit. 

The term "pit" comes from [[musical theater]], where the accompanying [[orchestra]] sits in the [[orchestra pit]].