History Main / DramaticTimpani

There's something about those deep-sounding, resonant kettledrums tuned to play specific notes (traditionally two notes a perfect fourth apart, such as C and the G below it) that evokes a visceral reaction from anyone who hears it. In sequences where maximum drama value is sought, expect ClassicalMusic excerpts with timpani. For extra awesome, add an ever- louder roll on one deep note.

In RealLife, timpani are mostly used in ClassicalMusic , in orchestras and concert bands. They are big copper bowls with a membrane stretched across them. Typically, a professional timpani player will have four or five of the drums in different sizes. The bigger drums can produce deeper bass notes, including those as low as a double bass or the pedal keyboard of a [[OminousPipeOrgan pipe organ]]. Unlike the other deep-pitched drum in common use, the bass drum (aka "kick drum"), the timpani sounds a clear pitch (bass drums have an indeterminate pitch). Timpani players can adjust the tuning using mechanical pedals at the base of the drum. The timpani is usually struck with a pair of wooden sticks with felt heads.

If your work is a PeriodPiece set in the 1700s or early 1800s, music from that era typically uses two timpani tuned a fourth apart, playing simple lines with repeated notes. If your work is set in the late 1800s or early 1900s, this is the era of music romanticism, where composers wanted more dramatic effects and more powerful sounds. As such, you could use four or five timpanis or even multiple timpani players to get a bigger, more powerful effect. As well, you can have the timpanis play deep melody lines or create sound effects. Occasionally, rock bands, progressive rock groups and avant-garde jazz groups will use timpani.

If your work is a PeriodPiece set in the 1700s or early 1800s, music from that era typically uses two timpani tuned a fourth apart. If your work is set in the 1ate 1800s or early 1900s, this is the era of music romanticism, where composers wanted more dramatic effects and more powerful sounds. As such, you could use four or five timpanis or even multiple timpani players to get a bigger, more powerful effect. Occasionally, rock bands, progressive rock groups and avant-garde jazz groups will use timpani.

In RealLife, timpani are mostly used in ClassicalMusic , in orchestras and concert bands. They are big copper bowls with a membrane stretched across them. Typically, a professional timpani player will have four or five of the drums in different sizes. The bigger drums can produce deeper bass notes. Unlike the other deep-pitched drum in common use, the bass drum (aka "kick drum"), the timpani sounds a clear pitch (bass drums have an indeterminate pitch). Timpani players can adjust the tuning using mechanical pedals at the base of the drum. The timpani is usually struck with a pair of wooden sticks with felt heads.

Other instruments capable of low pitch that can create a dramatic effect include OminousPipeOrgan.

In RealLife, timpani are mostly used in ClassicalMusic , in orchestras and concert bands. They are big copper bowls with a membrane stretched across them. Typically, a professional timpani player will have four or five of the drums in different sizes. The bigger drums can produce deeper bass notes. Unlike the other deep-pitched drum in common use, the bass drum (aka "kick drum"), the timpani sounds a clear pitch (bass drums have an indeterminate pitch). Timpani players can adjust the tuning using mechanical pedals at the base of the drum.

* The fourth (and final) movement of Music/DmitriShostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D minor starts and finishes with timpani solos.

There's something about those deep-sounding drums tuned to play specific notes (traditionally two notes a perfect fourth apart) that evokes a visceral reaction out of anyone who hears it. Expect any bit of music with timpani in it to be played for maximum drama value. For extra awesome, add an ever louder roll.

Compare DrumRollPlease. For the quiet version, see HeartbeatSoundtrack.

* The opening chorus of Music/JohannSebastianBach's ''Christmas Oratorio'', "Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage",[[note]] "Shout for joy, rejoice, rise up, praise these days"[[/note]] begins with an emphatic passage for solo timpani, occasionally punctuated by the ''basso continuo'' instruments. (The chorus was originally written as the opening chorus of the secular cantata ''Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!'', or "Resound, ye drums! Ring out, ye trumpets!" - so the drums, and shortly thereafter the trumpets, do as they are told.)

* Parodied in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'' as Spaceball 1 is transformed into (BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM)...'''[[https://youtu.be/O7aeWQCF1jM Mega Maid]]'''.: The dramatic timpani are played by an ''actual'' timpanist in the spaceship itself. Later, when the SelfDestructMechanism is activated, the timpanist is one of the many extras on board who gets an EjectionSeat, hitting President Skroob over the head with a mallet before the door closes and he blasts off.

* Parodied in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'' as Spaceball 1 is transformed into (BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM)...'''[[https://youtu.be/O7aeWQCF1jM Mega Maid]]'''.: The dramatic timpani are played by an ''actual'' timpanist in the spaceship itself. And in case you thought that was a one-off gag, the timpanist [[BrickJoke is one of the evacuees]] when the SelfDestructMechanism is activated.

** Symphonies Nos. 1 (first movement), 5 (first and second movements) and 6 (first movement) all provide dramatic timpani to increase excitement at climactic moments.
** The finale of Symphony No. 3 has the final cadence underlined by two timpanists pounding out "not with brute force--full, noble tones."

* ''[[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum]]'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6z_1cCvVjA The battle theme of Arceus]] is composed mostly out of Timpani and snare sounds, with trumpets and base backing up at certain parts. The song itself, though, is a MissingSecret due to the fact that it only plays when you battle a wild Arceus, for which the item required to do encounter one was never distributed during the games' lifetime. The song itself, however, can still be heard in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver]]'' via a event Arceus that really was distributed, but in those games, it invokes LongSongShortScene.

* In ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'', the soundtrack by Music/LeonardBernstein has the quiet title music followed by a pounding fugato for three drummers (though the third is actually on tuned drums rather than timpani).

** ''Film/ANewHope'' features one during the trench run, as the technicians aboard the Death Star prepare to fire the [[EarthShatteringKaboom Super]][[WaveMotionGun laser]] the second time.
* In ''Film/GalaxyQuest'', when Taggart is going back home for the first time and still doesn't realize it's all real, as the bay doors of the ''Protector 2'' open and he sees the space vista, dramatic timpani music plays.
* The first half of the opening credits of ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' (the half which has FunWithSubtitles) is accompanied by Pierre Arvay's "Ice Floe 9",[[note]] A piece of stock music from the De Wolfe catalogue, which provided most of the tracks in the film that weren't by Neil Innes.[[/note]] dominated by pounding timpani and enigmatic xylophone which combines with the white text on black background to create an atmosphere [[SoundtrackDissonance deliberately at odds]] with the comedy subtitles and the typical Creator/MontyPython absurdism that follows.

** ''Film/ANewHope'' features one during the trench run, as the technicians aboard the Death Star prepare to fire the [[EarthShatteringKaboom Super]][[FrickinLaserBeams laser]] the second time.