percussion beam

musical instrument

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

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The semanterion is a percussion beam that was used in the Greek Orthodox Church before bells were introduced in the 11th century to summon congregations. It has also been used in the Roman Catholic Church as a substitute for bells during Holy Week. This instrument is a type of idiophone, which is a musical instrument that produces sound by vibrating itself, without the use of strings or membranes. While many idiophones are nontonal and were historically used for popular entertainment or signaling, the semanterion served a specific liturgical function.1

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percussion instrument
Idiophones
…triangles and simple percussion sticks; percussion beams, such as the semanterion; percussion disks and plaques, single and in sets; xylophones, lithophones (sonorous stones), and metallophones (sets of tuned metal bars); percussion tubes, such as stamping tubes, slit drums, and tubular chimes; and percussion vessels varying from struck gourds and pots…
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…triangles and simple percussion sticks; percussion beams, such as the semanterion; percussion disks and plaques, single and in sets; xylophones, lithophones (sonorous stones), and metallophones (sets of tuned metal bars); percussion tubes, such as stamping tubes, slit drums, and tubular chimes; and percussion vessels varying from struck gourds and pots…
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