Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [timpani]

Pitched percussion instruments, usually arranged in a set of four, played by one musician. Also known as kettledrums, common in symphony orchestras.

Also known as kettle drums, timpani are large, tunable drums. Pieces sometimes call for multiple tuning changes in one piece, which can be achieved using a tuning mechanism like a foot pedal. A typical equipment setup consists of 4 timpani of different size, with a 2-3 inch difference in head size between each consecutive pair.

17 questions
9
votes
2 answers

Scoring for timpani

I have a mini-score of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony (Edition Eulenburg). In the first movement, the timpani line specifies Eb and Bb which is not surprising since the piece is in Eb. The surprising bit is that no key signature is used so it…
badjohn
  • 4,163
  • 1
  • 18
  • 41
9
votes
2 answers

Why are double strokes (with the same hand) taboo on timpani but recommened on snare?

I've played snare for a few years now and all my teachers recommended that I use double strokes for evenness of sound and speed. When I started playing some more difficult timpani parts however and used double strokes so I did not have to move my…
Gordon Gustafson
  • 1,074
  • 1
  • 7
  • 15
5
votes
1 answer

Do timpani have access to all notes in their playing range?

I understand that timpani normally have a tuning mechanism, usually involving a pedal that controls the tension on the drum surface, which allows the timpanist to play a range of melodies. However, it is not clear to me from the Wikipedia article…
E.P.
  • 395
  • 3
  • 12
4
votes
2 answers

Timpani alternative in the band room

I’m looking for a cheaper alternative to the timpani, that may be used in a middle school band. Any Ideas? Thanks in advance.
Gildardo Pérez Hernández
  • 41
  • 2
4
votes
1 answer

Question about this thing for timpani

I’m transposing some music in Medly and looking at the sheet music I came across this in the timpani part. Does anyone know what this means because I have no clue >~< I listened to the music a few times but it honestly still makes no sense on what…
CongressGamingINC
  • 43
  • 5
4
votes
2 answers

(0,1), (0,2) and (0,3) modes of vibration for a timpani

For a timpani, when hitting it in the center, how do you produce these three modes of vibration? Second mode has a higher frequency than the first, does that imply do you hit the timpani harder? Thank you!
Kevin Nguyen
  • 41
  • 2
4
votes
2 answers

Timpani Choke Notation

I'm writing a timpani part for a concert band score. I've seen timpanist "choke" the note with their hand (on the head) after striking it to stop it from sustaining. How can I notate this?
user33976
4
votes
1 answer

Should fast timpani notes be treated as a roll?

I know this could vary from piece to piece, but if there are no specific articulation markings or mallet suggestions, would it be safe to simply play extended measures of quick timpani notes as a roll? Consider Beethoven's 9th Symphony in D-Minor. I…
Cody Guldner
  • 931
  • 2
  • 11
  • 32
4
votes
2 answers

How should I dampen timpani?

I've been working on my timpani playing, and the music has it written in that I should dampen certain notes at various parts of the song. But having I'm having trouble figure out the best technique for doing so. When I put my hand flat on the…
Gordon Gustafson
  • 1,074
  • 1
  • 7
  • 15
3
votes
2 answers

Question about tempo markings on timpani part

I’m playing a timpani part in 4/4 at 132 BPM. 4 measures into the excerpt, there is a “dotted quarter note equals quarter note” marking. In this new section (still in 4/4), there are still eighth notes, offset sixteenth notes, and rolls. I’ve gotten…
Jonah
  • 31
  • 1
2
votes
3 answers

Why were timpani tuned most often in tonic-dominant?

The timpani tonic-dominant tunings appear like below for instances: The image above shows examples of the tonic-dominant timpani tunings of certain orchestral pieces in all 12 major / minor common keys. We have the following: Beethoven:…
user53472
2
votes
1 answer

How to stylistically prepare symphonic pieces for auditions

I was wondering what the general thought is behind preparing symphonic pieces for an audition for band at a University. The pieces have already been chosen, so what I am considering is whether to somewhat strictly follow the sheet music given, or if…
Cody Guldner
  • 931
  • 2
  • 11
  • 32
2
votes
1 answer

What is this part of a kettledrum?

Here is a picture of a kettledrum (from here). What is the name and function of the thing behind the pedal that is indicated in red?
Karlo
  • 1,299
  • 11
  • 20
2
votes
2 answers

How can I tune my timpani to different pitches just using a tuning fork or pitch pipe

Ok. So I consider myself to have pretty good pitch. If you give me a few seconds after you sound a note, I can tell you what the note is. I can also tune a timpani to any pitch using only my mouth (because you are supposed to sing into a timpani,…
Cody Guldner
  • 931
  • 2
  • 11
  • 32
1
vote
1 answer

Do I need to worry about Tympani glissando here?

So I have come across another thing that some people have said about my Pathetique Sonata orchestration. That is that my tympani pitch changes are too quick and that there will be glissando on the tympani due to the usage of the pedals. I am doing…
Caters
  • 6,256
  • 2
  • 29
  • 74
1
2