Avedis Zildjian

• In 1623, in the country of Turkey, Avedis Zildjian experimented at the court of the Sultan, where he worked as a metalsmith.

• He melted tin, copper and traces of silver.

• The result was a cymbal. It created a sheet of metal that wouldn’t shatter.

• The Sultan awarded him and gave him the last name Zilciyan.

• Zilciyan= Son of a cymbal maker

• In English, it is Zildjian.

What’s in a name?

Turkish to English: Zil= cymbal; dj= makerArmenian to English: ian= son of

• European classical composers began using cymbals in their music in the 1700s and 1800s.

• They became an important part of orchestras.

Avedis Zildjian III• Avedis Zildjian III took over the family

business in 1927.

• He moved the company to the United States in Boston, Massachusetts.

• Aram Zildjian gave Avedis the secret formula for making Zildjian cymbals.

• From start to finish, it takes a month to handcraft a cymbal.

• Jazz musician, Gene Krupa asked Zildjian to make a thinner cymbal.

• He called this new cymbal the Paper Thin. It was successful and had Americans demanding for the cymbals.

Avedis Zildjian made cymbals for the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps marching bands.

The Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr used Zildjian cymbals and made them popular.

Craigie Zildjian was the first woman to work at the company in 1976.

Parts of a cymbal

Types of cymbals

SplashA small cymbal whose short crash sounds like a

“splash” in the water.

RideA cymbal that makes a sustained, shimmering sound that

“rides” with the music.

CrashMounted or played in pairs, crash cymbals produce a loud,

sharp crashing sound.

Hi-HatA pair of cymbals mounted on a stand that can be played

while open or closed together.

SizzleA cymbal with rivets, chains or rattles attached to create a

sizzling sound.