"Kettledrum" and "Timpan" redirect here. For the racehorse, see Kettledrum (horse). For the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, see Kettle Drums (Metropolitan Museum of Art). For the stringed instrument, see Tiompan.
Timpani
A timpanist
Percussion instrument
Other names
Kettledrums, Timps, Pauken
Hornbostel–Sachs classification
211.11-922 (Struck membranophone with membrane lapped on by a rim)
Developed
at least c. 6th century AD
Playing range
Ranges of individual sizes[1]
Related instruments
Kus
Naqareh
Sound sample
Timpani F major triad
Timpani (/ˈtɪmpəni/;[2]Italian pronunciation:[ˈtimpani]) or kettledrums (also informally called timps)[2] are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. Thus timpani are an example of kettle drums, 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 drum stick 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 century. Today, they are used in many types of ensembles, including concert bands, marching bands, orchestras, and even in some rock bands.
Timpani is an Italian plural, the singular of which is timpano. However, in English the term timpano is only widely in use by practitioners: several are more typically referred to collectively as kettledrums, timpani, temple drums, or timps. They are also often incorrectly termed timpanis. A musician who plays timpani is a timpanist.
^Samuel Z. Solomon, "How to Write for Percussion", pp. 65–66. Published by the author, 2002. ISBN 0-9744721-0-7
Timpani (/ˈtɪmpəni/; Italian pronunciation: [ˈtimpani]) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family...
A timpani concerto is piece of music written for timpani with orchestral or band accompaniment. It is usually in three parts or movements. The first timpani...
The modern timpani evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries from the simple 12th-century membranophone of the Naker to a complex instrument, consisting...
Timpani is a French classical music record label established in 1990 by Stéphane Topakian. The label issued over 200 discs over 20 years, mainly of unknown...
timpani. Adams Musical Instruments Ludwig Drums Majestic Percussion Premier Percussion Yamaha Corporation These companies no longer produce timpani,...
section of an orchestra most commonly contains instruments such as the timpani, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, belonging to the membranophones, and...
The American Drum Manufacturing Company was a family-owned timpani manufacturer based in Denver, Colorado. Former Denver Symphony Orchestra timpanist...
new works for solo timpani and orchestra with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In a review of "Celebrations—An Overture for Timpani and Orchestra," the...
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trombone, cornet, euphonium, and tuba Percussion instruments, such as the timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, tambourine, tam-tam and mallet...
is an ancient Persian musical instrument, a large kettledrum similar to timpani. Kus is a Middle-Persian military term meaning "march". According to Von...
fortepiano (an early version of the piano). Percussion instruments included the timpani, snare drum, tambourine and the castanets. One major difference between...
oboe d'amore, flauto traverso, recorder, trumpet, horn, trombone, and timpani. For Bach, some instruments carry symbolic meaning such as a trumpet, the...
the harpsichord History of lute-family instruments Nafir Evolution of timpani in the 18th and 19th centuries History of the trumpet History of the violin...
the harpsichord History of lute-family instruments Nafir Evolution of timpani in the 18th and 19th centuries History of the trumpet History of the violin...
hitting the drumskin with a hand or object (most common form, including the timpani and snare drum) 22: by pulling a knotted string attached to the drumskin...
snare drums, bass drums, tenor drums, and cymbals. In the past, marching timpani were common, as were marching keyboard percussion instruments such as glockenspiels...
set of two or more, all played by one player, such as bongo drums and timpani. A number of different drums together with cymbals form the basic modern...
especially for their size. They were developed as an alternative to classical timpani in Cuba in the early 20th century and later spread across Latin America...
the harpsichord History of lute-family instruments Nafir Evolution of timpani in the 18th and 19th centuries History of the trumpet History of the violin...
the harpsichord History of lute-family instruments Nafir Evolution of timpani in the 18th and 19th centuries History of the trumpet History of the violin...
Eight Pieces for Four Timpani is a collection of short pieces by Elliott Carter for solo timpani – four drums played by one musician. Six of the pieces...
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