Ocean drum
The ocean drum is a percussion instrument that emulates the sounds of the ocean, invented by Olivier Messiaen in 1972.
Also recorded as Surf drum
Ocean drum
Badagnani (talk) · I created this work entirely by myself. · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Field
- idiophone.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
The ocean drum is a percussion instrument that emulates the sounds of the ocean, invented by Olivier Messiaen in 1972.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Ocean drum. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
World of VALÉORINE
Documentary connections
Only confirmed graph relationships appear here. Images are shown only when their identity and reuse rights both pass the documentary gate.
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
wikipedia incomplete · checked 25 September 2026
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q3075428 · wikipedia · Ocean drum
In this article
History
History
The ocean drum was originally called the geophone. It was invented by composer and ornithologist Olivier Messiaen for his orchestral piece Des canyons aux étoiles... in 1972, inspired by the Native American water drum. The first prototype of the 'geophone' was constructed by a Parisian instrument maker. Soon after, the instrument began gaining more renown and is now commonly known by the term ocean drum. The geophone was originally designed to replicate the sounds of dry and shifting earth; only later being applied to the sounds of the ocean.
Playing
Playing
The ocean drum is held by the frame, with the heads horizontal, and played by rolling the wrists so the drum gently tilts in all directions. The metal beads inside roll over the bottom head like water rolling over the shore. Different speeds produce different sounds. Stopping and starting suddenly creates crashing wave sounds.The ocean drum can be used in Buddhist meditation.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Klöwer, Töm. The joy of drumming: drums & percussion instruments from around the world. Binkey Kok Publications. 45. 1997. 9789074597319.
- 2.Ott, Pamela. Music for Special Kids: Musical Activities, Songs, Instruments and Resources. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 103. 2011. 9781849058582.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
Connections
Knowledge graph
Connections
Each connection was recorded deliberately, with the basis for it kept on the internal record.
Broader subject
1- idiophoneTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- ObsessionWork
- Obvio!Organisation
- ocarinaTerminology
- Occitan whistled from AasTerminology
- Ocean RangerWork
- Ocean TraderWork
- OctapolisWork
- octave effectTerminology
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own an object connected with Ocean drum?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.