About timpani
Timpani, which are instruments in the percussion family yet can play a melody, are indispensable to the climax of orchestral music. They fall into three types: the basic type, the handle type, and the pedal type, according to their tuning method.
Timpani's history
The ancestor of the present-day timpani is said to have been among the spoils that the Crusaders brought home from the Middle East. They were developed in Germany in the 14th to 15th century. At that time, it was the privilege of aristocrats to own timpani. It was not until 1600 that they were used for orchestral music.
A standard set of timpani consists of four or five different-sized drums. The drums are set up in an arch. Traditionally, German players set their drums up with the lowest drum on the right and the highest on the left, while American players set them up the opposite way. The position of the pedal also varies.
It is said that the German style traces back to the time they were used as the military's signal drums. When knights carried a pair of large and small drums mounted on horseback in marching, the smaller drum was fastened onto the left side of the horseback so as not to block people from swinging into the saddle.
Many composers have been making music using timpani effectively, and timpani almost always appear at the climax of music. Timpanists are sometimes called the 'second conductor' due to their great influence on the orchestra.
Timpani construction
Basic type
Handle type
Pedal type
Among the orchestral percussion instruments it is the timpani that project an especially strong presence. The metallic body, called the 'kettle', is shaped like a round-bottomed pot. A skin, called the 'head', is stretched over the hoop just like the lid of the pot. The instrument is marked by the ability, never seen in other kinds of drums, to change the pitch by adjusting the head's tension with the pedal.
Some timpani have a scale, called a tuning indicator, attached on the body to adjust the pitch. There are three types of timpani, which are basic, handle, and pedal types, according to the tuning methods. The most common type used today is pedal-type timpani because timpanists have to respond to the change in key during the tune and glissandos using one timpani. Pedal timpani are especially recommended for changing the pitch of the drum during a piece.
The pedal timpani used most often in orchestras are known as lock-type timpani, which hold the pedal in place to prevent it from moving after the desired pitch is achieved due to the strong timpani beat. Some drums are equipped with a handle to fine-tune the head tension.
If you would like a set of timpani consisting of five drums, you need to think of not only these differences in function but also how to choose from variously-sized drums before making purchases.
Related Products
Related Series
- TP-9000 Series
-
The TP-9000 Series timpani are the ideal choice for timpanists, orchestras and universities in need of a high caliber instrument. Because they are crafted with extreme attention to detail and under strict mechanical tolerances, they produce a pure, unencumbered tone with outstanding sustain. Features include heavy-duty frame, rim and tuning rods, a ball bearing pedal locking system and a fine tuner. In addition, all models feature the clear, resonant sound of the Yamaha hand-hammered bowls, as well as, extended tuning gauge, quiet mechanisms and adjustable footboard/kick plate relationship.
