Crotales are
percussion musical instruments. Crotales are round
discs with a
chromatic bell pitch.
Zildjian makes one of the most used sets of crotales.
Each disc is made of from the patented Zildjian cymbal alloy. The most popular set has 13 discs on a frame. Each disc is tuned, and the sets have a range from Middle C on a piano up two complete octaves. Additional octaves and individual discs are also available.
Crotales are used in a poly-percussive music environment, such as orchestral, symphonic, jazz, fusion and funk. Crotales can be heard on the Moving Pictures album by Rush, as played by percussionist Neil Peart. The crotales are played by striking them with drumsticks or mallets individually or in pairs.