Tympani [Timpani]

The timpani, popularly known as kettledrums, indeed consist of a pair of large, kettle-like bowls, covered with membranes and mounted on legs or stands. They form the heart of the percussion section of the classical symphony orchestra, providing both the greatest volume of sound and the most precise pitch among modern drums--through an elaborate system of screw and pedal tensioning, the timpani may be tuned exactly enough that composers can use them to support the harmonic structure of the music, or to play recognizable melodies. The timpani evolved from large military drums of southeastern Europe and the Near East; among their earliest admirers in Western Europe was Henry VIII of Britain, who ordered a set made for his retinue. They found their way into the classical orchestra by way of opera in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with Lully as an important pioneer. Beethoven, in his massive Ninth Symphony, expanded the range of timpani effects. Though unwieldy for use in a pop or jazz drumset, the melodic flexibility of the timpani has resulted in numerous appearances of the instrument in music of these genres.

Percussion Instruments