Trouble with timpani
Moderators: Peter Thomsen, miker
- Peter Thomsen
- Posts: 6623
- Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 6:47 pm
- Finale Version: Finale v27.4
- Operating System: Mac
In this case there are two timpani, a bigger timpano for the range {lower F up to C}, and a smaller timpano for the range {Bb up to higher F}.
At the beginning of the piece the bigger timpano is tuned in A, and the smaller timpano is tuned in D, a fourth higher than the A.
Hence you will see only A’s and D’s in the beginning of the part.
Later, the D timpano is tuned down to C (= tuning in C, A).
Later again, the A is tuned down to G (= tuning in C, G).
Back in the 1800’s it took time to change the tuning of a timpano; the timpani player needed many rest measures to do so.
As a consequence the parts from that time contained many compromises where you did not get the true bass note from the timpani part (but you can be sure that the composer would have preferred the true bass note, if only it were possible!).
On a modern timpano it is easy to change the tuning via a pedal on the timpano; it only takes a very short time to do so.
Skilled players can even play (slow) melodies on timpani.
While a set of two timpani is common, a modern, “full” set of timpani is four timpani.
However, timpani are quite pricey; hence a “full” set of four timpani is not common.
At the beginning of the piece the bigger timpano is tuned in A, and the smaller timpano is tuned in D, a fourth higher than the A.
Hence you will see only A’s and D’s in the beginning of the part.
Later, the D timpano is tuned down to C (= tuning in C, A).
Later again, the A is tuned down to G (= tuning in C, G).
Back in the 1800’s it took time to change the tuning of a timpano; the timpani player needed many rest measures to do so.
As a consequence the parts from that time contained many compromises where you did not get the true bass note from the timpani part (but you can be sure that the composer would have preferred the true bass note, if only it were possible!).
On a modern timpano it is easy to change the tuning via a pedal on the timpano; it only takes a very short time to do so.
Skilled players can even play (slow) melodies on timpani.
While a set of two timpani is common, a modern, “full” set of timpani is four timpani.
However, timpani are quite pricey; hence a “full” set of four timpani is not common.
Mac OS X 12.6.9 (Monterey), Finale user since 1996
I never realize how much a musician or conductor had to know about each instrument. I find it interesting. But how do I address this in Finale. Is there something that I have to do, or do I just write what I see on the sheet?