How can four percussion players perform music written for 25 or 30 instruments?

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Flemish rommelpot friction drum — percussion instrument Flemish *rommelpot* friction drum; in the Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels.

In a percussion ensemble, four players can easily perform music written for 25 or 30 instruments because each individual player is capable of playing many different instruments.1

This capability is a defining feature of the percussion ensemble, a type of chamber group that emerged in the 20th century. By utilizing a wide range of instruments—which are categorized by definite or indefinite pitch—these musicians can manage a vast array of equipment within a single composition, allowing for a rich palette of tone colors and effects.1