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The Timpani
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The timpani, also known as the kettledrums, are among the largest and most important of the percussion instruments. Usually two or three timpani are seen in an orchestra, depending on the size of the orchestral work, though today's large works are played with as many as five or six timpani. The instrument is capable of a wide range of effects, from a low, threatening rumble to resounding and powerful drumbeats. The art of timpani playing is one of a complex and demanding nature, despite the fact that it seems relatively simple.
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construction of the timpani
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 Shape and materials: The shell of the drum is cauldron-shaped and made of copper or brass. A synthetic material is stretched over the top, providing a hitting surface. Legs hold the weight of the shell
Pitch control: The membrane stretched over the shell can be loosened or tightened by screws situated around the edge of the circle. This alters the pitch (tighter skin for higher notes), though modern drums use a pedal mechanism, hence the name pedal or chromatic drum. Two or three notes (depending on the number of drums) are named at the beginning of the score and these are the notes that the player must tune to. Two ticks are used to strike the drums and stick types range from soft to hard
The timpanist is required to have a very good ear, as the drums may need to be tuned several times and to different pitches during a work. The player needs to know the exact spot he or she must hit the membrane depending on the requirement of the piece. Positions include hitting near the rim, on the rim and in the middle of the membrane
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instruments of definite pitch
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Tubular Bells: Also known as chimes, the eighteen bells are made of metal and cover a compass of an octave and a third. The bells are struck in the upper parts and are hung in two rows. Berlioz described their effect as 'dramatic rather than musical'. Rimsky-Korsakov on the other hand commented on their out-of-tune sound due to the confusion of overtones.
Glockenspiel and Celesta: Both the glockenspiel and celesta are known as metallophones as their keys are made from metal instead of wood. 'Glockenspiel' is the German word for 'bell-play'. The instrument consists of a chromatic series of metal bars in two rows, covering a range of 2 ½ to 3 octaves. A high, piercing sound is produced when knobbed beaters strike the bars. The orchestral glockenspiel is played horizontally, unlike those in military bands where a lyre-shaped frame holds the bars in an upright position. The celesta is the improved version of the glockenspiel and the bars are sounded by a small keyboard mechanism. The celesta featured in Tchaikovsky's 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' from The Nutcracker, and this was considered its first major role in a large orchestral work.
Xylophone: The keys of a xylophone are made out of wood, hence the Greek work xylo meaning 'wood, and emerged in Asiain the 14th century. It was a popular instrument in Africa, and still is today, and was made popular in Europe by Guslov. The keys are struck by two hard beaters and modern instruments have resonators beneath each note. The instrument first entered the symphony orchestra in the middle 1800's and was first used in Saint-Saens in 'Danse Macabre' (1874) to represent the sound of rattling bones. The marimba is a type of xylophone yet has thinner bars of wood and softer beaters, thus producing a softer tone.
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instruments of indefinite pitch
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Snare Drum: The snare drum, also called the side drum due to the position it is held in marching bands, is the most well-known of the drums and also the most difficult to play. Snares, eight to ten gut or wire strings, are stretched across the bottom of the drum ('snare head') over the calfskin membrane. This produces a rattling effect. The upper side of the drum is known as the 'batter head'. A muted effect can be created by placing a cloth under the snares and wire brushes are sometimes used instead of wooden drumsticks. The instrument is also capable of producing the famous drum roll
Bass Drum: The bass drum is the largest in the drum family with diametres ranging from about 61 cm to 102 cm. The drum is mounted vertically on a stand and can have either one or two heads. It is beaten with a soft stick and the deep tones of the bass drum are said to be 'felt' rather than heard. There are no snares on this drum and single notes and rolls can be played effectively
Tambourine: The tambourine dates back to Roman times and is struck with the knuckles or rubbed with the thumb. The rim holds small metal plates that clash when played or deliberately shaken
Castanets: Castenets are two hollow, small pieces of wood attached to the finger and thumb so they are clacked together; in the orchestra, they are fastened to a stick and shaken
Cymbals: The cymbals are two thin, concave dishes of brass that can be clashed together, fixed to the side of a drum and hit with beaters or rattled together at the edges. Attached to the back of the cymbals are leather handles and the total diametre of the circular plate is about 35 cm. To dampen the sound of a clash, the dishes are pressed rapidly against the chest
Triangle: The triangle is a steel bar bent into a triangle shape, with one corner left open. The bar is struck on the outside by a small metal rod, producing a high and bright tone. Moving the rod around the inside of the bar produces tremolos
Tam-tam: The tam-tam is a suspended bronze gong, the shallow-rimed ones from China and the deeper ones from Burma. This is a very precious instrument that usually has an engraved surface, such as a picture of a dragon
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