Editing Front ensemble

{{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]].

== History ==
[[File:Marching bells.png|thumb|291x291px|A set of marching alto [[Glockenspiel|bells]] used by the [[Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps]] in 1976]]
The front ensemble was developed by member corps of [[Drum Corps International]] before being adopted by other marching ensembles.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Morrison |first=Robert |date=July 1985 |title=The Development of the Front Percussion Ensemble |journal=[[Percussive Notes]] |volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=32}}</ref> Under the original rules Drum Corps International used with its founding in 1972, all instruments had to be marched without exception. Originally, timpani were the only [[Pitched percussion instrument|pitched percussion instruments]] allowed to be marched. Later, [[Keyboard percussion instrument|keyboard percussion instruments]] were allowed to be marched: glockenspiels and xylophones were permitted in 1974, and marimbas and vibraphones were permitted in 1977.

Over time, people began to realize the physical strain of carrying these large, awkward instruments, and they were allowed to be placed on the ground in 1978. This allowed for the use of extended techniques (such as [[Stevens grip]]) and higher quality instruments (such as [[pedal timpani]] and extended range [[Marimba|marimbas]]). The last year marching pitched percussion instruments were commonly used in competition was 1982.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Summerlin |first=Lane |date=2016 |title=The History and Development of the Front Ensemble in Drum Corps International |type=DMA dissertation |url=https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=osu1461167753 |website= |publisher=[[Ohio State University]] |pages=15–51 |oclc=968152092}}</ref>

The use of electronic instruments in marching band is controversial and divisive within the marching band community and was prohibited outright by Drum Corps International until 2008 when a proposal allowing them was passed.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Maher |first=Erin |date=2011 |title=The Amplification Controversy in Drum Corps International: Technological Change and the Meaning of Tradition |url=https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/concern/dissertations/dr26xz20w?locale=en |type= MA thesis |publisher=[[The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] |page=20 |doi=10.17615/7jge-9e28}}</ref>

== Instrumentation ==
Instrumentation for the front ensemble is not completely standardized, and not all ensembles have access to certain instruments; high schools may not have even one of each mallet instrument. The three main voices of the front ensemble are the wooden instruments (marimba and xylophone), the metallic instruments (vibraphone, glockenspiel, crotales, and tubular bells), and the auxiliary instruments (synthesizers, timpani, and non-pitched percussion).<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Giachetti |first=Jason J. |date=2022 |title=A Qualitative Analysis of Front Ensemble Arrangements for Drum Corps International Finalists and Applications to Marching Band Programs |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2714144718 |type=DMA dissertation |pages=40–75 |publisher=[[Five Towns College]]|id={{ProQuest|2714144718}} }}</ref>
[[Image:Bluecoats drum corps 2007 pit.JPG|thumb|348x348px|The front ensemble for the [[Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps]] rehearsing their 2007 show, "Criminal" |alt=]]A typical front ensemble is made up of about 13–18 players:<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Dunbar |first=Leah Meredith |date=2020 |title=Musical Identity and Arranging Styles of Drum Corps Front Ensembles |url=https://www.pas.org/docs/default-source/thesisdissertations/musical-identity-and-arranging-styles-in-drum-corps-front-ensembles-by-leah-dunbar.pdf?sfvrsn=8e19d43a_0 |type= BA thesis |publisher=[[Kenyon College]] |page=5 |via=[[Percussive Arts Society]]}}</ref> 

=== Pitched Percussion ===
* 4–6 [[marimbas]]
* 4–6 [[vibraphones]]
* 1 [[glockenspiel]]
* 1 [[xylophone]]
* 1 set of [[timpani]] (4 or 5 drums) 

=== Non-Pitched Percussion ===
* 0–1 [[Drum kit|drumset]]
* 0–2 racks{{Efn|Rack players are responsible for the [[auxiliary percussion]] within the ensemble. The unique name derives from the specialized frame that such instruments are mounted on.}}

=== Electronic Instruments ===
* 1–2 [[synthesizers]]/[[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]]

== See also ==

* [[Marching percussion]]
* [[Technology in Drum Corps International]]

==References==

=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}

=== Sources ===
{{Reflist}}{{Rudimental Percussion}}

[[Category:Types of percussion ensembles]]
[[Category:Marching bands]]