What is a group of ten percussion instruments called?

Answer 1

The answer to this question is slightly different if it is aimed at naming the group or naming music for the group.

In general, chamber groups of instruments have a term indicating the number of players, starting with solo (one instrument), duet (two), trio (three). From four instruments up, the ensemble can be called by latin number roots with '-et' suffix:

Quartet (4)

Quintet (5)

Sextet (6)

Septet (7)

Octet (8)

Nonet (9)

etc.

The next in line would be 'Dectet' for 10 instrumentalists. 11 would be 'UnDectet', essentially read as 'one-and-ten'.

If the number 10 refers to the actual number of instruments, and they can be managed by fewer players, Dectet would not work as well. Depending on the percussion instruments and their employment, they can be managed by as few as one player! In such a case, there's little reason to name the grouping anything beyond "percussion instruments", or "10 percussion instruments", and the group playing them can be named for the quantity of instrumentalists.

Another possibility, never to be overlooked (especially if you are the typesetter and are paid by the character) is to name the instrumentation explicitly. This will help to differentiate your group, overcome confusion over whether to number the instruments or musicians, and will help the stage manager to be sure that all the required instruments make it to the stage. In such a case, similar instruments can be grouped, but similar instruments with slight, but important differences must be spelled out:

Cassation for Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, Bass Drum, Crash and Ride cymbals, Guerrero, Claves, Cajone, Chimes and Orchestra Bells

probably is more helpful than

Cassation for drums, cymbals, bells and hand-percussion

or

Really loud Cassation

although the last might be the sort of name that catches on.

Past about 8 players, the term "ensemble" becomes a reasonable title, so "Percussion Ensemble" covers a multitude of groups and groupings, without being picayune. In such a case, identifying modifiers can be added to differentiate your Percussion Ensemble from their Percussion Ensemble, and in many cases, reference to the instrumentation can be dispensed with entirely for some other naming, such as a name associating them with location, period, or sponsor. No one really worries about how many boys sing in the Brooklyn Boys Choir.

Naming pieces can use the Latinate numbering (Piece for Percussion Dectet), but there are other approaches that can be used.

The European early-music numbering system for ensembles is still in use, as well, generally using the French 'á' followed by a number, in your case, á 10 as in "Piece for Percussion á 10".

For titles of music, often a name more descriptive of the music itself, whether based on form, metaphore, simile, or reference is appropriate i.e., Suite, Ponderance, Battery, or Wellington's Victory, is more effective than yet another "Dectet".

Your purposes may fall within the answer above, or may require further clarification or consideration. Particularly, the question of "10 instruments or 10 players" needs to be answered, as does differentiation from all the other 10-instrument percussion ensembles in the universe.