The variety of percussion instruments is amazing! A drummer musician is a real person in an orchestra, in its arsenal are a variety of drums, triangles, bells, cymbals, timpani and many others. If most of the instruments are familiar to everyone, then what timpani is is not very clear. There is a misconception that this is a tool similar to plates. Common expression such as "ringing timpani". Like it or not, we’ll try to figure this out.
Classification of Percussion Instruments
Percussion instruments - the oldest type of musical instrument, the first available to mankind. The variety of shapes and sounds allows you to divide them into groups according to different criteria.
By pitch:
- With a certain pitch. That is, instruments that can accurately identify the sounding note. These include, for example, xylophone, metallophone, bells.
- With an undefined pitch. The exact pitch cannot be fixed. Such instruments include the big and snare drums, cymbals, tambourine, tom tom.
On sound production:
- Membranophones. Instruments whose sound comes from a stretched plastic or leather membrane. Tambourine, drums, for example, belong to this particular group.
- Idiophones. Sound emits the entire body of the instrument. Such, for example, are a triangle, xylophone, marimba.
Idiophones are divided into:
- Metal: metallophones, triangles, bells.
- Wooden: xylophones, box.
Surprisingly, the piano also applies to percussion instruments. Indeed, the sound production of this instrument is based on the hammering of strings, therefore, such a common instrument is a percussion instrument.
What are timpani in terms of classification? The answer will surprise many. The instrument of the timpani is a membrane phone with a certain pitch. This unambiguously dispels the myth of the similarity of the instrument with the plates, and also shows the meaninglessness of the expression “ringed timbre”, it is outdated (initially ringing was not necessarily associated with metal). Now the metal idiophone may ring, but not the timpani.
Device timpani
As an instrument, it is a bowl on which a leather or plastic membrane is stretched. Depending on the size, timpani have different heights, the instrument is tuned to a specific tone.
Often used a system that includes from 2 to 7 tools. You can get acquainted with the sound of the instrument in this video. That is why the word "timpani" is often used in the plural.
V. Shinstin Timpolero
By the XV century, a modern look of the instrument was formed, a permanent system was formed. And already from the 17th century, the timpani began to be part of the orchestra. Instrument playing technique - single strokes and tremolo.
The use of the instrument in the works of composers
What are timpani for a composer? This is a bright, effective instrument, which often emphasizes the special effect of the moment. The diverse dynamics from pianissimo to fortissimo also provide rich opportunities for composing music. Sometimes there are even solo episodes for the timpani, for example, Richard Strauss wrote Burlesque for piano and orchestra, which just begins with the solo of this amazing instrument.
Richard Strauss, Burlesque for piano and orchestra, performed by Denis Matsuev.
Symphony No. 103 of Joseph Haydn
Tremolo timpani resembles thunder. Typically, the sound is associated with anxiety, which often occurs during a thunderstorm.
One of the most famous works beginning with the sound of the timpani is the London symphony with tremolo timpani J. Haydn.
The brilliant composer, the father of the symphony (J. Haydn is the “record holder” in this genre. He wrote 104 symphonies, and it was in the work of the Viennese classic that this genre was formed) created this brilliantly work that expresses a deep philosophical meaning.
The tremolo timpani, as well as the entry in the lower case, personify the gloomy beginning of human life. After all, hardly anyone can have an absolutely cloudless, peaceful life. But at the very beginning of the symphony, her idea was laid: whatever the conflict, it must be removed, which happens with the appearance of the main party.
Part I
The second part of the symphony reveals the idea in a slightly different way: it shows that life is beautiful in its diversity. And, written in the form of double variations, during which mysterious, gloomy and solemn themes come together, it is a vivid confirmation of this. Especially when you consider that the topics are written on the same folk basis.
Part II
The third part reveals another surprising facet of an optimistic worldview. The clumsy, comic minuet shows that many situations in life can be treated with humor.
The final of the symphony, solemn and life-affirming, sums up. He confirms that optimism must triumph, and only by such principles must one live. This, of course, is a worthy conclusion to the symphony with tremolo timpani.
To summarize, what are timpani? So this is an amazing tool. It has a certain pitch of sound, which is created due to the membrane stretched over the bowl. He is necessarily part of the symphony orchestra, expanding its capabilities to create unique images.