Hey, what's that sound: Timpani

Today, we beat the drum for this mighty percussion instrument in all its bowel-rumbling brillianceWhat is it? The sound of distant thunder! The noise of tumbling avalanches! The booming heartbeat of the universe! Also known as that bloody big drum that sounds unstoppable and looks like so much fun to play.Who uses it? Stravinsky, Holst, Berlioz, Bach, Beethoven and Mahler have all contributed works that feature timpani at the centre of the classical symphony. Modern composers like William Kraft ...

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