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{{Short description|Pitched percussion instrument}}
{{Hatnote group|
{{Redirect2|Kettledrum|Timpan|the racehorse|Kettledrum (horse)|the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection|Kettle Drums (Metropolitan Museum of Art)|the stringed instrument|Tiompan}}
{{Dist|Timpano (disambiguation){{!}}Timpano}}
{{Other uses}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox Instrument
| name           = Timpani
| names          = Kettledrums, Timps, Pauken
| image          = USAFE Band timpanist.jpg
| image_capt     = A timpanist
| background     = percussion
| hornbostel_sachs = 211.11-922
| hornbostel_sachs_desc = Struck [[membranophone]] with membrane lapped on by a rim
| developed      = at least {{circa}} 6th century AD
| range          = [[File:Range timpani.png|200px]]

Ranges of individual sizes<ref>Samuel Z. Solomon, "How to Write for Percussion", pp. 65–66. Published by the author, 2002. {{ISBN|0-9744721-0-7}}</ref> [[File:Timpani Range Individual.JPG|300px]]
| related        = *[[Kus]]
*[[Naqareh]]
|sound sample = [[File:Timpani F major triad.ogg|thumb|Timpani F major triad]]
}}

The '''timpani''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪ|m|p|ə|n|i}};<ref name=deftimpani>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/timpani|title=timpani |website=www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com}}</ref> {{IPA|it|ˈtimpani}}) or '''kettledrums''' (also informally called '''timps''')<ref name=deftimpani/> are [[musical instrument]]s in the [[percussion instrument|percussion family]]. A type of [[drum]] categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a [[Membranophone|membrane]] called a [[drumhead|head]] stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of [[copper]]. Thus timpani are an example of '''kettledrums''', also known as vessel drums and semispherical drums, whose body is similar to a section of a sphere whose cut conforms the head. Most modern timpani are ''pedal timpani'' and can be tuned quickly and accurately to specific pitches by skilled players through the use of a movable foot-pedal. They are played by striking the head with a specialized [[Beater (percussion)|beater]] called a ''timpani stick'' or ''timpani mallet''. Timpani evolved from [[military drums]] to become a staple of the [[classical orchestra]] by the last third of the 18th{{nbsp}}century. Today, they are used in many types of [[Musical ensemble|ensemble]]s, including [[concert band]]s, [[marching band]]s, [[orchestra]]s, and even in some [[rock bands]].

''Timpani'' is an Italian plural, the singular of which is {{lang|it|timpano}}, though the singular may also be referred to as a ''timpanum.'' In English the term ''timpano'' is only widely in use by practitioners: a single drum is often referred to as a ''timpani'', leading many to incorrectly pluralize the word as ''timpanis''. A musician who plays timpani is a ''timpanist''.

==Etymology and alternative spellings==
First attested in English in the late 19th{{nbsp}}century, the Italian word {{lang|it|timpani}} derives from the [[Latin]] {{lang|la|[[Tympanum (hand drum)|tympanum]]}} (pl. {{lang|la|tympana}}), which is the [[Latinisation (literature)|latinisation]] of the Greek word {{lang|grc|τύμπανον}} ({{Transliteration|grc|tumpanon}}, pl. {{Transliteration|grc|tumpana}}), {{gloss|a hand drum}},<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dtu%2Fmpanon τύμπανον], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> which in turn derives from the verb {{lang|grc|τύπτω}} ({{Transliteration|grc|tuptō}}), meaning {{gloss|to strike, to hit}}.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dtu%2Fptw τύπτω], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus</ref> Alternative spellings with ''y'' in place of either or both ''i''{{'}}s—''tympani'', ''tympany'', or ''timpany''—are occasionally encountered in older English texts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tympani, Tympanist |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tympani |website=Merriam-Webster |access-date=28 October 2018}}</ref> Although the word ''timpani'' has been widely adopted in the English language, some English speakers choose to use the word ''kettledrums''.<ref name=grove>{{cite book|title=The New Grove Encyclopædia of Music and Musicians|edition=2nd|first=George|last=Grove|author-link=George Grove|editor=Stanley Sadie|editor-link=Stanley Sadie|date=January 2001|publisher=Grove's Dictionaries of Music|pages=Volume 18, pp826–837|isbn=978-1-56159-239-5|no-pp=true|title-link=Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians}}
</ref> The German word for timpani is {{lang|de|Pauken}}; the Swedish word is {{lang|sv|pukor}} in plural (from the word {{lang|sv|puka}}), the French and Spanish is {{lang|es|timbales}}, not to be confused with the [[timbales|latin percussion instrument]], which would actually supersede the timpani in the traditional Cuban ensemble known as [[Charanga (Cuba)|{{langr|es|Charanga|cat=no}}]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cZH22u6_p50C&q=haitian&pg=PA66 |title=Music from Cuba: Mongo Santamaria, Chocolate Armenteros, and Other Stateside Cuban Musicians |author=Charley Gerard |page=67 |year=2001 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |access-date=28 October 2018|isbn=9780275966829 }}</ref>

The tympanum is mentioned, along with a faux name origin, in the {{lang|la|[[Etymologiae]]}} of [[Isidore of Seville|St. Isidore of Seville]]:

<blockquote>''{{lang|la|Tympanum est pellis vel corium ligno ex una parte extentum. Est enim pars media symphoniae in similitudinem cribri. Tympanum autem dictum quod medium est, unde et margaritum medium tympanum dicitur; et ipsud ut symphonia ad virgulam percutitur.}}''<ref>Isidore of Seville, ''Etymologiae'' 3.22.10, Bill Thayer's edition of the Latin text at LacusCurtius [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Isidore/3*.html#22 online.]</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>The tympanum is a skin or hide stretched over one end of a wooden frame. It is half of a [[symphonia]] (''i.e. another type of drum'') and it looks like a [[sieve]]. The tympanum is so named because it is a half, whence also the half-pearl is called a tympanum. Like the symphonia, it is struck with a drumstick.<ref name="Barney">{{cite book|last=Barney|first=Stephen|title=The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2010|page=98}}</ref></blockquote>

The reference comparing the tympanum to half a pearl is borrowed from [[Pliny the Elder]].<ref>''Natural History'' IX. 35, 23. Quoted in {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Symphonia|volume=26|page=289|first=Kathleen|last=Schlesinger|authorlink=Kathleen Schlesinger}}</ref>

== Construction ==
=== Basic timpani ===
The basic timpano consists of a drum head stretched across the opening of a bowl typically made of copper<ref name=bridge/> or, in less expensive models, [[fiberglass]] or [[aluminum]]. In the [[Sachs–Hornbostel|Sachs–Hornbostel classification]], this makes timpani [[membranophone]]s. The head is affixed to a [[wikt:hoop|hoop]] (also called a ''flesh hoop''),<ref name=grove/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flesh%20hoop|title=Definition of FLESH HOOP|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref> which in turn is held onto the bowl by a ''counter hoop''.<ref name=grove/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counter%20hoop|title=Definition of COUNTER HOOP|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref> The counter hoop is usually held in place with a number of tuning [[screw (simple machine)|screw]]s called ''tension rods'' placed regularly around the circumference. The head's tension can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the rods. Most timpani have six to eight tension rods.<ref name=bridge/>

The shape and material of the bowl's surface help to determine the drum's [[timbre]]. For example, [[Sphere|hemispheric]] bowls produce brighter tones while [[Parabola|parabolic]] bowls produce darker tones.<ref name=power>{{cite journal | last = Power | first = Andrew |date=April 1983 | title = Sound Production of the Timpani, Part 1 | journal = Percussive Notes | volume = 21 | issue = 4 | pages = 62–64 | publisher = [[Percussive Arts Society]] }}</ref> Modern timpani are generally made with copper due to its efficient regulation of internal and external temperatures relative to aluminum and fiberglass.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Richard K. |title=In Search of the Missing Fundamental |url=https://wtt.pauken.org/?page_id=6785 |website=The Well-Tempered Timpani |access-date=23 September 2018 |date=March 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Timpani setup.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Walter Light]] [[#Pedal timpani|pedal]] and [[#Chain timpani|chain]] timpani set up in three different combinations.]]
Timpani come in a variety of sizes from about {{convert|84|cm|in|order=flip}} in diameter down to ''piccoli timpani'' of {{convert|30|cm|in|order=flip}} or less.<ref name=grove/> A 33-inch drum can produce C<sub>2</sub> (the C below the [[bass clef]]), and specialty piccoli timpani can play up into the [[treble clef]]. In [[Darius Milhaud]]'s 1923 [[ballet]] score ''[[La création du monde]]'', the timpanist must play F{{music|sharp}}<sub>4</sub> (at the bottom of the treble clef).

Each drum typically has a range of a [[perfect fifth]], or seven [[semitone]]s.<ref name=grove/>

=== Machine timpani ===
Changing the pitch of a timpani by turning each tension rod individually is a laborious process. In the late 19th century, mechanical systems to change the tension of the entire head at once were developed. Any timpani equipped with such a system may be considered ''machine timpani'', although this term commonly refers to drums that use a handle connected to a spider-type tuning mechanism.<ref name=bridge/>

==== Pedal timpani ====
By far the most common type of timpani used today are pedal timpani, which allows the tension of the head to be adjusted using a pedal mechanism. Typically, the pedal is connected to the tension screws via an assembly of either [[cast metal]] or metal rods called the ''spider''.

[[File:Dresden pedal.jpg|thumb|left|A pedal on a ''Dresden'' timpano—the clutch (seen here on the left) must be disengaged to change the pitch of the drum.]]
[[File:Timpani, Yamaha pedal timpani.jpg|thumb|The inside, bottom of a Yamaha pedal timpano, showing the mechanical tension-adjusting system]]
There are three types of pedal mechanisms in common use today:
* The ''ratchet clutch'' system uses a [[Ratchet (device)|ratchet and pawl]] to hold the pedal in place. The timpanist must first disengage the clutch before using the pedal to tune the drum. When the desired pitch is achieved, the timpanist must then reengage the clutch. Because the ratchet engages in only a fixed set of positions, the timpanist must fine-tune the drum by means of a fine-tuning handle.
* In the ''balanced action'' system, a spring or [[hydraulic cylinder]] is used to balance the tension on the head so the pedal will stay in position and the head will stay at pitch. The pedal on a balanced action drum is sometimes called a ''floating pedal'' since there is no clutch holding it in place.
* The ''friction clutch'' or ''post and clutch'' system uses a clutch that moves along a post. Disengaging the clutch frees it from the post, allowing the pedal to move without restraint.

Professional-level timpani use either the ratchet or friction system and have copper bowls. These drums can have one of two styles of pedals. The ''Dresden'' pedal is attached at the side nearest the timpanist and is operated by ankle motion. A ''Berlin''-style pedal is attached by means of a long arm to the opposite side of the timpani, and the timpanist must use their entire leg to adjust the pitch. In addition to a pedal, high-end instruments have a hand-operated fine-tuner, which allows the timpanist to make minute pitch adjustments. The pedal is on either the left or right side of the drum depending on the direction of the setup.

Most school bands and orchestras below a [[university]] level use less expensive, more durable timpani with copper, fiberglass, or aluminum bowls. The mechanical parts of these instruments are almost completely contained within the frame and bowl. They may use any of the pedal mechanisms, though the balanced action system is by far the most common, followed by the friction clutch system. Many professionals also use these drums for outdoor performances due to their durability and lighter weight. The pedal is in the center of the drum itself.

=== Chain timpani ===
[[File:Chain timpani.jpg|thumb|220px|On chain timpani, a chain links the tension rods so a master handle can be used to turn them all at once.]]
On ''chain timpani'', the tension rods are connected by a [[roller chain]] much like the one found on a [[bicycle]], though some manufacturers have used other materials, including [[Wire rope|steel cable]]. In these systems, all the tension screws can then be tightened or loosened by one handle. Though far less common than pedal timpani, chain and cable drums still have practical uses. Occasionally, a timpanist is forced to place a drum behind other items, so he cannot reach it with his foot. Professionals may also use exceptionally large or small chain and cable drums for special low or high notes.

=== Other tuning mechanisms ===
A rare tuning mechanism allows the pitch to be changed by rotating the drum itself. A similar system is used on [[rototom]]s. Jenco, a company better known for [[Percussion instrument|mallet percussion]], made timpani tuned in this fashion.

In the early 20th century, Hans Schnellar, the timpanist of the [[Vienna Philharmonic]], developed a tuning mechanism in which the bowl is moved via a handle that connects to the base and the head remains stationary. These instruments are referred to as ''Viennese timpani'' (''Wiener Pauken'') or ''Schnellar timpani''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170430020152/http://drtrumpet.eu/MB-PDF/2001e_MB_ISMA_timpani.pdf Vibration patterns and sound analysis of the Viennese Timpani]. Bertsch, Matthias. (2001), Proceedings of ISMA 2001</ref> [[Adams Musical Instruments]] developed a pedal-operated version of this tuning mechanism in the early 21st century.

=== Heads ===
Like most [[drumhead]]s, timpani heads can be made from two materials: animal [[skin]] (typically [[calfskin]] or [[goatskin (material)|goatskin]])<ref name=grove/> or [[plastic]] (typically [[PET film (biaxially oriented)|PET film]]). Plastic heads are durable, weather-resistant, and relatively inexpensive. Thus, they are more commonly used than skin heads. However, many professional timpanists prefer skin heads because they produce a "warmer" [[timbre]]. Timpani heads are determined based on the size of the head, not the bowl. For example, a {{convert|23|in|cm|adj=on}} drum may require a {{convert|25|in|cm|adj=on}} head. This {{convert|2|in|cm|0|adj=on}} size difference has been standardized by most timpani manufacturers since 1978.<ref>[http://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/timpani_head_size/articles "Timpani Head Guide"], ''Steve Weiss Music''</ref>

== Sticks and mallets ==
[[File:Timpani sticks.jpg|thumb|Timpanists use a variety of timpani sticks since each produces a different [[timbre]].]]
Timpani are typically struck with a special type of [[drum stick]] called a ''timpani stick'' or ''timpani mallet''. Timpani sticks are used in pairs. They have two components: a shaft and a head. The shaft is typically made from [[hardwood]] or [[bamboo]] but may also be made from [[aluminum]] or [[carbon fiber]]. The head can be constructed from a number of different materials, though [[felt]] wrapped around a wooden core is the most common. Other core materials include compressed felt, [[Cork (material)|cork]], and [[leather]].<ref name="Of Music">{{cite book |last1=Kallen |first1=Stuart |title=The Instruments of Music |date=2003 |publisher=Lucent Books |location=Farmington Hills, MI |isbn=978-1-59018-127-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/musiclibraryi00stua/page/24 24] |chapter-url=http://www.gale.com |access-date=31 October 2018 |chapter=One |url=https://archive.org/details/musiclibraryi00stua/page/24 }}</ref> Unwrapped sticks with heads of wood, felt, flannel, and leather are also common.<ref name=grove/> Wooden sticks are used as a special effect<ref>{{cite web |title=T5 Wood |url=http://vicfirth.com/products/american-customr-timpani-wood/ |website=Vic Firth |access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref>—specifically requested by composers as early as the Romantic era—and in [[Historically informed performance|authentic performances]] of [[Baroque music]]. Wooden timpani sticks are also occasionally used to play the suspended cymbal.

Although not usually stated in the score (excepting the occasional request to use wooden sticks), timpanists will change sticks to suit the nature of the music. However, the choice during a performance is subjective and depends on the timpanist's preference and occasionally the wishes of the conductor. Thus, most timpanists own a great number of sticks.<ref name=grove/> The weight of the stick, size and latent surface area of the head, materials used for the shaft, core, and wrap, and method used to wrap the head all contribute to the timbre the stick produces.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XexFFphAE0 Slow Motion of Timpani Technique | Percussion Research]. Retrieved 7 December 2012.</ref>

In the early 20th century and before, sticks were often made with whalebone shafts, wooden cores, and sponge wraps. Composers of that era often specified sponge-headed sticks. Modern timpanists execute such passages with felt sticks.

== Popular grips ==
The two most common grips in playing the timpani are the [[Matched grip#German grip|German]] and [[Matched grip#French grip|French]] grips. In the German grip, the palm of the hand is approximately parallel with the drum head and the thumb should be on the side of the stick. In the French grip, the palm of the hand is approximately perpendicular with drum head and the thumb is on top of the stick. In both of these styles, the fulcrum is the contact between the thumb and middle finger. The index finger is used as a guide and to help lift the stick off of the drum.<ref name="Stewart Hoffman">{{cite web|url=http://www.stewarthoffmanmusic.com/articles-percussion-techniques.php?id=47|title=Playing Timpani &#124; Timpani Techniques &#124; High School Percussion|last=Hoffman|first=Stewart|publisher=Stewart Hoffman Music|location=Toronto, ON|work=stewarthoffmanmusic.com|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424225920/http://www.stewarthoffmanmusic.com/articles-percussion-techniques.php?id=47|archive-date=24 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Matched grip#American grip|American]] grip is a hybrid of these two grips. Another known grip is known as the Amsterdam Grip, made famous by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, which is similar to the Hinger grip, except the stick is cradled on the lower knuckle of the index finger.

== In the modern ensemble ==
[[File:Standard timpani setup.jpg|thumb|left|A standard set of timpani consists of four drums.]]

=== Standard set ===
A standard set of timpani (sometimes called a console) consists of four drums: roughly {{convert|81|cm|in|0}}, {{convert|74|cm|in|0}}, {{convert|66|cm|in|0}}, and {{convert|58|cm|in|0}} in diameter.<ref name=goodman>{{cite book|last=Goodman |first=Saul |author-link=Saul Goodman |title=Modern Method for Tympani |orig-year=1948 |year=1988 |publisher=[[Alfred Publishing|Alfred Publishing Company, Inc.]] |location=[[Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California|Van Nuys]], [[California]] |isbn=978-0-7579-9100-4}}</ref> The range of this set is roughly [[scientific pitch notation|D<sub>2</sub> to A<sub>3</sub>]]. A great majority of the orchestral repertoire can be played using these four drums. However, contemporary composers have written for extended ranges. [[Igor Stravinsky]] specifically writes for a ''piccolo timpano'' in ''[[The Rite of Spring]]'', tuned to B<sub>3</sub>. A piccolo drum is typically {{convert|51|cm|in|0}} in diameter and can reach pitches up to C<sub>4</sub>.

Beyond this extended set of five instruments, any added drums are nonstandard. ([[Luigi Nono (composer)|Luigi Nono]]'s [[Al gran sole carico d'amore]] requires as many as eleven drums, with actual melodies played on them in octaves by two players.) Many professional orchestras and timpanists own more than just one set of timpani, allowing them to execute music that cannot be more accurately performed using a standard set of four or five drums. Many schools and [[youth orchestra]] ensembles unable to afford purchase of this equipment regularly rely on a set of two or three timpani, sometimes referred to as "the orchestral three".<ref name=grove/> It consists of {{convert|74|cm|in|0|adj=on}}, {{convert|66|cm|in|0|adj=on}}, and {{convert|58|cm|in|0|adj=on}} drums. Its range extends down only to F<sub>2</sub>.

The drums are set up in an arc around the performer. Traditionally, [[North America]]n, [[United Kingdom|British]], and [[France|French]] timpanists set their drums up with the lowest drum on the left and the highest on the right (commonly called the ''American'' system), while [[Germany|German]], [[Austria]]n, and [[Greeks|Greek]] players set them up in the reverse order, as to resemble a drum set or upright bass (the ''German'' system).<ref name=grove/> This distinction is not strict, as many North American players use the German setup and vice versa.

=== Players ===
[[File:Balanced action timpani.jpg|thumb|left|Balanced action timpani are often used in outdoor performances because of their durability.]]

Throughout their education, timpanists are trained as percussionists, and they learn to play all instruments of the percussion family along with timpani. However, when appointed to a principal timpani chair in a professional ensemble, a timpanist is not normally required to play any other instruments. In his book ''Anatomy of the Orchestra'', [[Norman Del Mar]] writes that the timpanist is "king of his own province", and that "a good timpanist really does set the standard of the whole orchestra." A qualified member of the percussion section sometimes doubles as associate timpanist, performing in repertoire requiring multiple timpanists and filling in for the principal timpanist when required.

Among the professionals who have been highly regarded for their virtuosity and impact on the development of the timpani in the 20th century are [[Saul Goodman (percussionist)|Saul Goodman]], Hans Schnellar, Fred Hinger, Tom Freer, and Cloyd Duff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wienerpauken.at/eng/history.php|title=Wiener Pauken – handmade timpani of Anton Mittermayr – timpani builder of Wiener Philharmoniker|website=www.wienerpauken.at}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pas.org/About/the-society/halloffame/HingerFred.aspx |title=Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame: Fred Hinger |access-date=18 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618235937/http://www.pas.org/About/the-society/halloffame/HingerFred.aspx |archive-date=18 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Atwood|first=Jim|url=http://www.pas.org/about/hall-of-fame/cloyd-duff|title=Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame: Cloyd Duff|website=Pas.org|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>
{{listen|filename=Richard_Strauss_-_Neal_O'Doan_-_Burleske.ogg|title=Burleske|description=[[Richard Strauss]]'s ''[[Burleske]]'' begins with the main theme played on the timpani.|format=[[ogg]]}}
{{listen |
 | filename = Gustav Holst - the planets, op. 32 - iv. jupiter, the bringer of jollity (excerpt).ogg
 | title = "Jupiter" from ''The Planets'' suite (excerpt)
 | description = In the beginning of "Jupiter" from [[Gustav Holst|Holst]]'s ''[[The Planets]]'', the two timpanists echo the main theme.
|}}

=== Concertos ===
A few solo [[concerto]]s have been written for timpani, and are for timpani and orchestral accompaniment. The 18th-century [[composer]] [[Johann Christian Fischer|Johann Fischer]] wrote a [[symphony]] for eight timpani and orchestra, which requires the solo timpanist to play eight drums simultaneously. Rough contemporaries [[Georg Druschetzky]] and [[Johann Melchior Molter]] also wrote pieces for timpani and orchestra. Throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th, there were few new timpani concertos. In 1983, [[William Kraft]], principal timpanist of the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic]], composed his ''Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra'', which won second prize in the [[Kennedy Center]] [[Friedheim Award]]s. There have been other timpani concertos, notably, [[Philip Glass]], considered one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century,<ref>{{citation |title=The Guardian Profile: Philip Glass |url=https://www.theguardian.com/Archive/Article/0,4273,4306156,00.html |date=24 November 2001 |first=John |last=O'Mahony |access-date=14 December 2015 |periodical=[[The Guardian]] |location=London}}</ref> wrote a double concerto at the behest of soloist Jonathan Haas titled ''[[Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra]]'', which features its soloists playing nine drums a piece.<ref name="philipglass.com">[http://www.philipglass.com/music/compositions/concerto_fantasy_for_2_timpanists_orchestra.php "Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520115410/http://www.philipglass.com/music/compositions/concerto_fantasy_for_2_timpanists_orchestra.php |date=20 May 2011 }}, ''Philip Glass Official Website''</ref>

== Performance techniques ==

=== Striking ===
For general playing, a timpanist will beat the head approximately {{convert|4|in|cm|0}} in from the edge.<ref name=goodman/> Beating at this spot produces the round, resonant sound commonly associated with timpani. A [[drum roll|timpani roll]] (most commonly signaled in a score by {{serif|''[[trill (music)|tr]]''}} or [[tremolo|three slashes]]) is executed by striking the timpani at varying velocities; the speed of the strokes are determined by the pitch of the drum, with higher pitched timpani requiring a quicker roll than timpani tuned to a lower pitch. While performing the timpani roll, mallets are usually held a few inches apart to create more sustain.<ref name="Timpani SBO">{{cite magazine|last=Jones |first=Brett |date=19 November 2013|title=Percussion Performance:Timpani|url=http://sbomagazine.com/current-issue/4578-percussion-performance-timpani.html|magazine=School Band and Orchestra |location=Las Vegas, Nevada|publisher=Timeless Communications |access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref> [[Anton Bruckner]]'s [[Symphony No. 7 (Bruckner)|Symphony No. 7]] requires a continuous roll on a drum for over two and a half minutes. In general, timpanists do not use multiple bounce rolls like those played on the [[snare drum]], as the soft nature of timpani sticks causes the rebound of the stick to be reduced, causing multiple bounce rolls to sound muffled.<ref name=grove/> However, when playing with wood mallets, timpanists sometimes use multiple bounce rolls.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How and When to Play a Buzz Roll on Timpani |url=http://freepercussionlessons.com/how-and-when-to-play-a-buzz-roll-on-timpani/ |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=freepercussionlessons.com}}</ref>

The tone quality can be altered without switching sticks or adjusting the tuning. For example, by playing closer to the edge, the sound becomes thinner.<ref name=grove/> A more staccato sound can be produced by changing the velocity of the stroke or playing closer to the center.<ref name="Timpani SBO"/>

=== Tuning ===
Prior to playing, the timpanist must clear the heads by equalizing the tension at each tuning screw. This is done so every spot is tuned to exactly the same pitch. When the head is clear, the timpani will produce an in-tune sound. If the head is not clear, the pitch will rise or fall after the initial impact of a stroke, and the drum will produce different pitches at different [[dynamics (music)|dynamic levels]]. Timpanists are required to have a well-developed sense of [[relative pitch]] and must develop techniques to tune in an undetectable manner and accurately in the middle of a performance. Tuning is often tested with a light tap from a finger, which produces a near-silent note.

Some timpani are equipped with tuning gauges, which provide a visual indication of the pitch. They are physically connected either to the counterhoop, in which case the gauge indicates how far the counterhoop is pushed down, or the pedal, in which case the gauge indicates the position of the pedal. These gauges are accurate when used correctly. However, when the instrument is disturbed in some fashion (transported, for example), the overall pitch can change, thus the markers on the gauges may not remain reliable unless they have been adjusted immediately preceding the performance. The pitch can also be changed by room temperature and humidity. This effect also occurs due to changes in weather, especially if an outdoor performance is to take place. Gauges are especially useful when performing music that involves fast tuning changes that do not allow the timpanist to listen to the new pitch before playing it. Even when gauges are available, good timpanists will check their intonation by ear before playing. Occasionally, timpanists use the pedals to retune while playing.

[[Portamento]] effects can be achieved by changing the pitch while it can still be heard. This is commonly called a ''[[glissando]]'', though this use of the term is not strictly correct. The most effective glissandos are those from low to high notes and those performed during rolls. One of the first composers to call for a timpani glissando was [[Carl Nielsen]], who used two sets of timpani playing glissandos at the same time in his [[Symphony No. 4 (Nielsen)|Symphony No. 4 ("The Inextinguishable")]].
{{listen |
 | filename = Bartók - Sonata for two pianos and percussion - Assai lento - Allegro molto (clip).ogg
 | title = Sonata for two pianos and percussion, first movement (excerpt)
 | description = This segment of [[Béla Bartók|Bartók]]'s Sonata for two pianos and percussion features pedal glissandos during a timpani roll.
|}} ''Pedaling'' refers to changing the pitch with the pedal; it is an alternate term for ''tuning''. In general, timpanists reserve this term for passages where they must change the pitch in the midst of playing. Early 20th-century composers such as Nielsen, [[Béla Bartók]], [[Samuel Barber]], and [[Richard Strauss]] took advantage of the freedom that pedal timpani afforded, often giving the timpani the bass line.
[[File:Bartók - Concerto for Orchestra - Timpani pedaling.png|thumb|center|500px|This chromatic passage from the ''Intermezzo interrotto'' movement of [[Béla Bartók|Bartók]]'s [[Concerto for Orchestra (Bartók)|Concerto for Orchestra]] requires the timpanist to use the pedals to play all the pitches. One way of executing this passage is annotated here: The lowest and highest drum stay on F and E{{music|flat}}, respectively. All pedaling is executed on the middle two drums. Each pedal change is indicated by a colored line: red for the larger and blue for the smaller of the middle drums.]]
{{listen |
 | filename = Bartók - Concerto for Orchestra (clip).ogg
 | title = Concerto for Orchestra (excerpt)
 | description = In this passage from the ''Intermezzo interrotto'' movement of [[Béla Bartók|Bartók]]'s [[Concerto for Orchestra (Bartók)|Concerto for Orchestra]], the timpanist plays a chromatic bass line, which requires using the pedal to change pitches.
|}}

=== Muffling ===
Since timpani have a long sustain, ''muffling'' or ''damping'' is an inherent part of playing. Often, timpanists will muffle notes so they only sound for the length indicated by the composer. However, early timpani did not resonate nearly as long as modern timpani, so composers often wrote a note when the timpanist was to hit the drum without concern for sustain. Today, timpanists must use their ear and the [[Sheet music|score]] to determine the length the note should sound.

The typical method of muffling is to place the pads of the fingers against the head while holding onto the timpani stick with the thumb and index finger. Timpanists are required to develop techniques to stop all vibration without making any sound from the contact of their fingers.<ref name=goodman/>

Muffling is often referred to as ''muting'', which can also refer to playing with mutes on them (''[[#Extended techniques|see below]]'').

=== Extended techniques ===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}
It is typical for only one timpani to be struck at a time, but occasionally composers will ask for two notes. This is called a [[double stop]], a term borrowed from the [[string instrument]] vocabulary. [[Ludwig van Beethoven]] uses this effect in the slow third movement of his [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Ninth Symphony]], as do [[Johannes Brahms]] in the second movement of his [[A German Requiem (Brahms)|German Requiem]] and [[Aaron Copland]] in [[El Salón México]]. Some modern composers occasionally require more than two notes. In this case, a timpanist can hold two sticks in one hand much like a [[marimba|marimbist]], or more than one timpanist can be employed. In his Overture to ''[[Benvenuto Cellini (opera)|Benvenuto Cellini]]'', for example, [[Hector Berlioz]] realizes fully voiced chords from the timpani by requiring three timpanists and assigning one drum to each. He goes as far as ten timpanists playing three- and four-part chords on sixteen drums in his ''[[Requiem (Berlioz)|Requiem]]'', although with the introduction of pedal tuning, this number can be reduced.

Modern composers will often specify the beating spot to alter the sound of the drum. When the timpani are struck directly in the center, they have a sound that is almost completely devoid of tone and resonance. [[George Gershwin]] uses this effect in ''[[An American in Paris]]''. Struck close to the edge, timpani produce a very thin, hollow sound. This effect is used by composers such as Bartók, Bernstein, and Kodály.

A variation of this is to strike the head while two fingers of one hand lightly press and release spots near the center. The head will then vibrate at a [[harmonic]] much like the similar effect on a string instrument.

Resonance can cause timpani not in use to vibrate, causing a quieter sound to be produced. Timpanists must normally avoid this effect, called [[sympathetic resonance]], but composers have exploited it in solo pieces such as [[Elliott Carter]]'s ''[[Eight Pieces for Four Timpani]]''. Resonance is reduced by damping or muting the drums, and in some cases composers will specify that timpani be played ''con sordino'' (with mute) or ''coperti'' (covered), both of which indicate that mutes – typically small pieces of felt or leather – should be placed on the head.

Composers will sometimes specify that the timpani should be struck with implements other than timpani sticks. It is common in timpani etudes and solos for timpanists to play with their hands or fingers. [[Philip Glass]]'s ''Concerto Fantasy'' utilizes this technique during a timpani cadenza. Also, [[Michael Daugherty]]'s ''Raise The Roof'' calls for this technique to be used for a certain passage. [[Leonard Bernstein]] calls for [[maraca]]s on timpani in his Symphony No. 1 ''Jeremiah'' and in his ''[[Symphonic Dances from West Side Story]]'' suite. [[Edward Elgar]] attempts to use the timpani to imitate the engine of an ocean liner in his ''[[Enigma Variations]]'' by requesting the timpanist play a soft roll with [[snare drum]] sticks. However, snare drum sticks tend to produce too loud a sound, and since this work's premiere, the passage has been performed by striking with coins. [[Benjamin Britten]] asks for the timpanist to use drumsticks in his ''[[War Requiem]]'' to evoke the sound of a field drum.

[[Robert W. Smith (musician)|Robert W. Smith]]'s ''Songs of Sailor and Sea'' calls for a "whale sound" on the timpani. This is achieved by moistening the thumb and rubbing it from the edge to the center of the head. Among other techniques used primarily in solo work, such as John Beck's ''Sonata for Timpani'', is striking the bowls. Timpanists tend to be reluctant to strike the bowls at loud levels or with hard sticks since copper can be dented easily due to its soft nature.

On some occasions a composer may ask for a metal object, commonly an upside-down [[cymbal]], to be placed upon the head and then struck or rolled while executing a glissando on the drum. [[Joseph Schwantner]] uses this technique in ''From A Dark Millennium''. [[Carl Orff]] asks for cymbals resting on the head while the drum is struck in his later works. Additionally, [[Michael Daugherty]] utilizes this technique in his concerto ''Raise The Roof''. In his piece ''[[From me flows what you call Time]]'', [[Tōru Takemitsu]] calls for [[Standing bell|Japanese temple bowls]] to be placed on timpani.<ref>{{Cite web|title=From me flows what you call Time|url=https://en.schott-music.com/shop/from-me-flows-what-you-call-time-no156292.html|access-date=2 January 2021|website=englisch|language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Early timpani and trumpet.jpg|thumb|In the 15th century, timpani were used with [[trumpet]]s as ceremonial instruments in the [[cavalry]].]]
{{Further|History of timpani}}

=== Pre-orchestral history ===
The first recorded use of early Tympanum was in "ancient times when it is known that they were used in religious ceremonies by Hebrews."<ref name=goodman/> The [[Moon of Pejeng]], also known as the ''Pejeng Moon'',<ref>For a thorough scholarly analysis of the Pejeng Moon and the type of drum named after it, see August Johan Bernet Kempers, "The Pejeng type," ''The Kettledrums of Southeast Asia: A Bronze Age World and Its Aftermath'' (Taylor & Francis, 1988), [https://books.google.com/books?id=ikSQw_-8gboC&pg=PA327&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=0_0#PPA327,M1 327]–340.</ref> in [[Bali]], the largest single-cast bronze [[kettledrum]] in the world,<ref>Iain Stewart and Ryan Ver Berkmoes, ''Bali & Lombok'' (Lonely Planet, 2007), [https://books.google.com/books?id=OY1puA2oNvUC&pg=PA203&dq=%22Moon+of+Pejeng%22+largest+drum&ei=ho-vSZ_nJJDCMu-GmJIF 203].</ref>  is more than two thousand years old.<ref>Yayasan Bumi Kita and Anne Gouyon, ''The Natural Guide to Bali: Enjoy Nature, Meet the People, Make a Difference'' (Tuttle Publishing, 2005), [https://books.google.com/books?id=RzUPfuQ1GO0C&pg=PP111&dq=%22Moon+of+Pejeng%22+over+2000+years+old&ei=QpCvSZrgF5nMMt-SgF8#PPP111,M1 109].</ref>  The Moon of Pejeng is "the largest known relic from Southeast Asia's [[Bronze Age]] period."<ref name="Pringle">{{cite book| last = Pringle| first = Robert| title = Bali: Indonesia's Hindu Realm; A short history of| url = https://archive.org/details/shorthistorybali00prin| url-access = limited| pages = [https://archive.org/details/shorthistorybali00prin/page/n46 28]–40| publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]]| series = Short History of Asia Series
| year = 2004| isbn = 978-1-86508-863-1}}</ref> The drum is in the [[Pura Penataran Sasih]] temple."<ref>Rita A. Widiadana, "[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2002/06/06/get-touch-with-bali039s-cultural-heritage.html Get in touch with Bali's cultural heritage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705020403/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2002/06/06/get-touch-with-bali039s-cultural-heritage.html |date=5 July 2009 }}," ''The Jakarta Post'' (6 June 2002).</ref>

[[File:Nagara, a percussion instrument, Rajasthan.jpg|upright|left|thumb|A [[naqareh]] from [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]]]
In 1188, [[Cambro-Norman]] chronicler [[Gerald of Wales]] wrote, "''Ireland uses and delights in two instruments only, the harp namely, and the tympanum.''"<ref>Topographia Hibernica, III.XI; tr. O'Meary, p. 94.</ref>

Arabian [[naqareh|nakers]], the direct ancestors of most timpani, were brought to 13th-century [[Continental Europe]] by [[The Crusades|Crusader]]s and [[Saracen]]s.<ref name=bridge>{{cite web |url=http://myhome.sunyocc.edu/~bridger/morepages/subpages/timpconstpaper.pdf |title=Timpani Construction paper |access-date=18 February 2008 |last=Bridge |first=Robert |archive-date=29 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529123133/http://myhome.sunyocc.edu/~bridger/morepages/subpages/timpconstpaper.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> These drums, which were small (with a [[diameter]] of about {{convert|8|to(-)|8+1/2|in|cm|0}}) and mounted to the player's belt, were used primarily for [[military]] [[Ceremony|ceremonies]]. This form of timpani remained in use until the 16th century. In 1457, a [[Hungary|Hungarian]] [[legation]] sent by [[Ladislaus Posthumus of Bohemia and Hungary|King Ladislaus V]] carried larger timpani mounted on [[horse]]back to the court of [[Charles VII of France|King Charles VII]] in [[France]]. This variety of timpani had been used in the [[Middle East]] since the 12th century. These drums evolved together with [[trumpet]]s to be the primary instruments of the [[cavalry]]. This practice continues to this day in sections of the [[British Army]], and timpani continued to be paired with trumpets when they entered the [[european classical music|classical]] [[orchestra]].<ref name="Timpani and Percussion">{{cite book |last1=Seaman |first1=Christopher |last2=Richards |first2=Michael |title=Inside Conducting |date=2013 |publisher=University of Rochester Press, Boydell & Brewer |location=Rochester |isbn=978-1-58046-411-6 |pages=149–150 |edition=1st|jstor=10.7722/j.ctt3fgm4p.2 }}</ref>

The medieval European timpani were typically put together by hand in the southern region of France. Some drums were tightened together by horses tugging from each side of the drum by the bolts. Over the next two centuries, a number of technical improvements were made to the timpani. Originally, the head was nailed directly to the shell of the drum. In the 15th century, heads began to be attached and tensioned by a counterhoop tied directly to the shell. In the early 16th century, the bindings were replaced by [[screw]]s. This allowed timpani to become tunable instruments of [[definite pitch]].<ref name=grove/> The [[Industrial Revolution]] enabled the introduction of new construction techniques and materials, in particular machine and pedal tuning mechanisms. Plastic heads were introduced in the mid-20th century, led by [[Remo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://remo.com/company/ |title=Company |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Remo Inc. |access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Role in orchestra ===
{{Further|Evolution of Timpani in the 18th and 19th centuries}}

"No written kettledrum music survives from the 16th century, because the technique and repertory were learned by oral tradition and were kept secret. An early example of trumpet and kettledrum music occurs at the beginning of [[Claudio Monteverdi]]'s opera [[L'Orfeo]] (1607)."<ref>{{cite web |title=Kettledrum; Musical Instrument |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=19 August 2014 |url=http://www.britannica.com/art/kettledrum |website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> Later in the [[Baroque music|Baroque]] era, [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] wrote a secular [[cantata]] titled ''[[Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!]]'', which translates roughly to "Sound off, ye timpani! Sound, trumpets!" Naturally, the timpani are placed at the forefront: the piece starts with an unusual timpani solo and the chorus and timpani trade the melody back and forth. Bach reworked this movement in [[Jauchzet, frohlocket! BWV 248 I|Part I]] of the [[Christmas Oratorio]].
[[File:City Trumpets, Valencia cropped.jpg|thumb|Although by the early 19th century, timpani were most commonly found in orchestras, ceremonial trumpet and timpani ensembles still existed. Image from late 18th century, Valencia.]] 
[[Mozart]] and [[Haydn]] wrote many works for the timpani and even started putting it in their symphonies and other orchestral works.

[[Ludwig van Beethoven]] revolutionized timpani music in the early 19th century. He not only wrote for drums tuned to intervals other than a fourth or fifth, but he gave a prominence to the instrument as an independent voice beyond programmatic use. For example, his [[Violin Concerto (Beethoven)|Violin Concerto]] (1806) opens with four solo timpani strokes, and the [[scherzo]] of his [[Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)|Ninth Symphony]] (1824) sets the timpani (tuned an octave apart) against the orchestra in a sort of [[Call and response (music)|call and response]].<ref name=krentzer>{{cite journal | last = Krentzer | first = Bill  |date=December 1969 | title = The Beethoven Symphonies: Innovations of an Original Style in Timpani Scoring | journal = Percussionist | volume = 7 | issue = 2 | pages = 55–62 | publisher = [[Percussive Arts Society]] }}</ref>

The next major innovator was [[Hector Berlioz]]. He was the first composer to indicate the exact sticks that should be used—"[[felt]]-covered", "wooden", etc. In several of his works, including ''[[Symphonie fantastique]]'' (1830), and his ''[[Requiem (Berlioz)|Requiem]]'' (1837), he demanded the use of several timpanists at once.<ref name=goodman/>

Until the late 19th century, timpani were hand-tuned; that is, there was a sequence of screws with ''T''-shaped handles, called ''taps'', which altered the tension in the head when turned by players. Thus, tuning was a relatively slow operation, and composers had to allow a reasonable amount of time for players to change notes if they were called to tune in the middle of a work. The first 'machine' timpani, with a single tuning handle, was developed in 1812.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bowles |first=Edmund A. |year=1999 |title=The Impact of Technology on Musical Instruments |journal=COSMOS Journal |publisher=[[Cosmos Club]] |url=http://www.cosmos-club.org/web/journals/1999/bowles.html |access-date=19 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712070243/http://www.cosmos-club.org/web/journals/1999/bowles.html |archive-date=12 July 2014 }}</ref> The first pedal timpani originated in [[Dresden]] in the 1870s and are called ''Dresden'' timpani for this reason.<ref name=bridge/> However, since [[vellum]] was used for the heads of the drums, automated solutions were difficult to implement since the tension would vary unpredictably across the drum. This could be compensated for by hand-tuning, but not easily by a pedal drum. Mechanisms continued to improve in the early 20th century.

Despite these problems, composers eagerly exploited the opportunities the new mechanism had to offer. By 1915, [[Carl Nielsen]] was demanding [[glissando]]s on timpani in his Fourth Symphony—impossible on the old hand-tuned drums. However, it took [[Béla Bartók]] to more fully realize the flexibility the new mechanism had to offer. Many of his timpani parts require such a range of notes that it would be unthinkable to attempt them without pedal drums.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, timpani were almost always tuned with the [[Dominant (music)|dominant]] note of the piece on the low drum and the [[Tonic (music)|tonic]] on the high drum—a [[perfect fourth]] apart. Until the early 19th century the dominant (the note of the large drum) was written as G and the tonic (the note of the small drum) was written as C no matter what the actual key of the work was, and whether it was major or minor, with the actual pitches indicated at the top of the score (for example, ''Timpani in D–A'' for a work in D major or D minor).<ref name = bridge/> This notation style however was not universal: Bach, Mozart, and Schubert (in his early works) used it, but their respective contemporaries Handel, Haydn, and Beethoven wrote for the timpani at concert pitch.<ref>{{cite book |first=Norman |last=Del Mar |title=The Anatomy of the Orchestra |publisher=University of California Press|year=1981|isbn=0-520-04500-9}}{{Page needed|date=June 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Timpani77.jpg|thumb|The Timpanist plays these successive glissandos at the end of the timpani introduction in Persian Mysticism Around G composed by Alexander Rahbari and premiered in Vienna, 1977. |577x577px]]
[[File:Persian Mysticism Aroung G (online-audio-converter.com).ogg|thumb|The opening section of Persian Mysticism Around G featured by solo timpani using the glissando effect (recorded 1980 by Colosseum Musikstudios, performed by the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alexander Rahbari).]]
In the 2010s, even though they are written at concert pitch, timpani parts continue to be most often<ref>See, as an early 20th-century example, the orchestral score of Debussy's [[Pelléas et Mélisande]]: through no. 6 non-transposing parts have a key signature of one flat but the timpani part has no key signature, in bar 7 of no. 1 the timpani B{{music|flat}} is written in the staff; nos. 29 to 30 non-transposing parts have a key signature of four sharps but, again, the timpani part has no key signature, and so on.</ref> but not always<ref>For an example where this is not done, i.e. where the timpani part carries the same signature as all the other parts, see the orchestral score of Prokofiev's [[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Prokofiev)|Piano Concerto No. 1]] in D{{music|flat}} major, where, incidentally, transposing instrument parts are also written at concert pitch with the same key signature as all the other parts.</ref> written with no key signature, no matter what key the work is in: accidentals are written in the staff, both in the timpanist's part and the conductor's score. By 1977 in Vienna, [[Alexander Rahbari]], an outstanding Iranian-Austrian composer and conductor, commenced the concert with one of his own compositions, entitled Persian Mysticism Around G, which starts with a short introduction written for timpani (five timpani tuned in ''B{{flat}}-C-D-E{{flat}}-G'').  After a few bars fomenting the primary stormy passage, he uses an effective glissando effect produced by the back and forth switching of the timpani pedals, moving from B{{flat}} up to C and then rolling down back to G (You can see the glissando notation and also listen to the whole timpani introduction on the right).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laPI_rmCa3o| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/laPI_rmCa3o| archive-date=7 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=Persian Mysticism|website=youtube.com| date=3 February 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Rahbari also makes use of a series of [[acciaccatura]] during this opening section.

=== Outside the orchestra ===
[[File:ML 1976 detail-timpani.jpg|thumb|This 1976 photograph shows marching timpani ''grounded'' with legs extended.]]
[[File:John Bonham 1975.jpg|thumb|upright|[[John Bonham]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] with a timpano.]]

Later, timpani were adopted into other classical music ensembles such as [[concert band]]s. In the 1970s, [[marching band]]s and [[Drum and bugle corps (classic)|drum and bugle corps]], which evolved both from traditional marching bands and concert bands, began to include marching timpani. Unlike concert timpani, marching versions had fiberglass shells to make them light enough to carry. Each player carried a single drum, which was tuned by a hand crank. Often, during intricate passages, the timpani players would put their drums on the ground by means of extendable legs, and perform more like conventional timpani, yet with a single player per drum. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, marching arts-based organizations' allowance for timpani and other percussion instruments to be permanently grounded became mainstream. This was the beginning of the end for marching timpani: eventually, standard concert timpani found their way onto the football field as part of the [[front ensemble]], and marching timpani fell out of common usage. Timpani are still used by the Mounted Bands of the [[Household Division]] of the [[British Army]]<ref>[[Beating Retreat]] page, showing image of mounted bands with timpani in 2008.</ref> and of the [[French Republican Guard Band|Mounted Band]] of the [[Republican Guard (France)|''Garde Républicaine'']] in the [[French Army]].

<!-- need information about timpani in vaudeville and early jazz drum kits and such -->
As [[rock and roll]] bands started seeking to diversify their sound, timpani found their way into the studio. In 1959 Leiber and Stoller made the innovative use of timpani in their production of the Drifters' recording, "There Goes My Baby." Starting in the 1960s, drummers for high-profile rock acts like [[The Beatles]], [[Cream (band)|Cream]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[The Beach Boys]], and [[Queen (band)|Queen]] incorporated timpani into their music.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNamee |first1=David |title=Hey, what's that sound: Timpani |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/apr/27/whats-that-sound-timpani |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=23 September 2018 |date=27 April 2009 }}</ref> This led to the use of timpani in [[progressive rock]]. [[Emerson, Lake & Palmer]] recorded a number of rock covers of classical pieces that utilize timpani. [[Rush (band)|Rush]] drummer [[Neil Peart]] added a tympani to his expanding arsenal of percussion for the ''[[Hemispheres (Rush album)|Hemispheres]]'' (1978) and ''[[Permanent Waves]]'' (1980) albums and tours, and would later sample tympani in his drum solo, "The Rhythm Method" in 1988. More recently, the rock band [[Muse (band)|Muse]] has incorporated timpani into some of their classically based songs, most notably in Exogenesis: Symphony, Part I (Overture). [[Jazz]] musicians also experimented with timpani. [[Sun Ra]] used it occasionally in his Arkestra (played, for example, by percussionist Jim Herndon on the songs "Reflection in Blue" and "El Viktor," both recorded in 1957). In 1964, [[Elvin Jones]] incorporated timpani into his drum kit on [[John Coltrane]]'s four-part composition ''[[A Love Supreme]]''. [[Butch Trucks]], drummer with the [[Allman Brothers Band]], made use of the timpani.

In his choral piece ''A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CFaAB8Tyxk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/-CFaAB8Tyxk |archive-date=7 November 2021 | url-status=live |title=Samuel Barber – 'A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map'| date=2 January 2017 |access-date=19 April 2021 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Samuel Barber]] employs three pedal timpani upon which are played glissandos.

[[Jonathan Haas]] is one of the few timpanists who markets himself as a soloist. Haas, who began his career as a solo timpanist in 1980, is notable for performing music from many genres including jazz, rock, and classical. He released an album with a rather unconventional jazz band called ''Johnny H. and the Prisoners of Swing''. Philip Glass<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://philipglass.com/ |title=Philip Glass |website=philipglass.com}}</ref> with his ''Concerto Fantasy'', commissioned by Haas, put two soloists in ''front'' of the orchestra, an atypical placement for the instruments. Haas also commissioned [[William Susman|Susman's]] ''Floating Falling'' for timpani and cello.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/1129115/timpani-accompaniment |title="Susman-Floating Falling" |website=Steve Weiss Music}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lytavry]]
* [[Electronic tuner]]
* [[List of timpani manufacturers]]
* [[Missing fundamental]]
* [[Vibrations of a drum head]]
* [[Davul]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* Adler, Samuel. ''The Study of Orchestration''. W. W. Norton & Company, 3rd edition, 2002. {{ISBN|0-393-97572-X}}
* Del Mar, Norman. ''Anatomy of the Orchestra''. University of California Press, 1984. {{ISBN|0-520-05062-2}}
* Ferrell, Robert G. "[https://archive.today/20030608053049/http://66.82.75.68/percperf2.html Percussion in Medieval and Renaissance Dance Music: Theory and Performance]". 1997. Retrieved 22 February 2006.
* Montagu, Jeremy. ''Timpani & Percussion''. Yale University Press, 2002. {{ISBN|0-300-09337-3}}
* Peters, Mitchell. ''Fundamental Method for Timpani''. Alfred Publishing Co., 1993. {{ISBN|0-7390-2051-X}}
* Solomon, Samuel Z. ''How to Write for Percussion''. Published by the author, 2002. {{ISBN|0-9744721-0-7}}
* Thomas, Dwight. [http://datimp.com/timpani.html ''Timpani: Frequently Asked Questions'']. Retrieved 4 February 2005.
* "Credits: Beatles for Sale". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 February 2005.
* "Credits: A Love Supreme". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 February 2005.
* "Credits: Tubular Bells". Allmusic. Retrieved 18 February 2005.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060511122408/http://www.composerjohnbeal.com/WmKraft.html "William Kraft Biography"]. Composer John Beal. Retrieved 21 May 2006.
* [http://datimp.com/duffart.html "Timpanist – Musician or Technician?"]. Cloyd E. Duff, Principal Timpani – retired – Cleveland Orchestra.
* "Timpani" {{cite book|title=The New Grove Encyclopædia of Music and Musicians|edition=2nd|first=George|last=Grove|author-link=George Grove|editor=Stanley Sadie|editor-link=Stanley Sadie|date=January 2001|publisher=Grove's Dictionaries of Music|volume=18|pages=826–837|isbn=978-1-56159-239-5|no-pp=true|title-link=Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians}}

== External links ==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Timpani audio.ogg|date=12 June 2008}}
* {{Wiktionary inline|timpani}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Timpani}}
* [http://wtt.pauken.org/?page_id=2173 The Well-Tempered Timpani]—Timpani harmonics information
* [http://www.guidorueckel.de/ Website of Guido Rückel, solo-timpanist of Munich Philharmonic; many timpani pictures]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Kettledrum|volume=26|pages=763–766|first=Kathleen|last=Schlesinger|authorlink=Kathleen Schlesinger}}
*{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.sil.org/LinguaLinks/Anthropology/ExpnddEthnmsclgyCtgrCltrlMtrls/mMembranophones.htm
 |title       = 534m Membranophones
 |work        = SIL
 |accessdate  = 4 January 2007
|url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060710200629/http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/anthropology/ExpnddEthnmsclgyCtgrCltrlMtrls/mMembranophones.htm
 |archivedate = 10 July 2006
}}

{{Percussion}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Directly struck membranophones]]
[[Category:Drums]]
[[Category:Battle drums]]
[[Category:Orchestral percussion instruments]]
[[Category:Pitched percussion instruments]]
[[Category:Italian words and phrases]]
[[Category:Bass (sound)]]
[[Category:Continuous pitch instruments]]
[[Category:Musical instruments played with soft mallets]]
[[Category:Orchestral instruments]]
[[Category:Baroque instruments]]
[[Category:Concert band instruments]]