Timpani

The timpani or kettledrums 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 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 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.

Back to Foundations →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain