I think this works quite well ok (edit because now they sound a bit rough the second time around).

I don't want to sound to negative because I was a percussionist, but this sounds better to me on a large pipe organ. I am trained to think that way because of the original Rollerball movie with James Caan. Sorry, Just my opinion. The musicians are talented however.

timpani isn't a very well constructed instrument now that I think about it. 3rd world drums play a much clearer, louder, deeper sounds than these behemoths. These bulbous cauldrons sound way too flat to say the least.

Perhaps because western orchestra's always been about the strings and the winds, and not so much on the percussions.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'Timpani, Bach, Randy, Max' to 'Timpani, Bach, Randy Max' - edited by lucky760

Yes this wouldn't be my favourite interpretation but it's interesting to hear someone give it a go. I agree the piece on a pipe organ is amazing.

>> ^legacy0100:
timpani isn't a very well constructed instrument now that I think about it. 3rd world drums play a much clearer, louder, deeper sounds than these behemoths. These bulbous cauldrons sound way too flat to say the least.
Perhaps because western orchestra's always been about the strings and the winds, and not so much on the percussions.


This isn't an example of a good timpani sound, or a particularly wise orchestration. It looks like a college recital, performed by a student who is still learning, so I wouldn't base your judgment of this instrument on one video.

There are many cool sounding low pitched ethnic drums, but none of them allow you to tune to a particular pitch on the fly. If you look closely, you'll see the performer adjusting a pedal - which tightens or loosens the head - at the base of these drums. A nice set of drums, played by a skilled player will give you a huge, clear awesome sound.

I'd recommend you check out a good recording of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Orff's Carmina Burana or Holst's Planets for a good idea of how Timpani are supposed to sound. You hear it quite a bit in film music too.

Percussion was underused in Western art music up until the 20th Century, so while most of the classical chestnuts only have a bit of perc here and there, you see quite a bit in music written over the last 100 years.

I arranged Bach's Passacaglia in Cm for Vibes, Marimba and Bass (with low C extention) for my junior recital, and it worked really well. I should dig that out and do it again somewhere.

^the pitch control device is often found in most ethnic drums in any typical drum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabla
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janggo

In any rate, timpani gives the image that it's unnecessarily big and doesn't pack enough punch for its size

Unless i get to see a really well made timpani playing.

coincidentally enough, the ones you've just mentioned happens to be my favorites.

Perhaps that's the reason why i like Classic military marches so much. Lots of percussion, loud and rapid booms.

meh, looks like the piano is actually doing most of the work or I would be impressed

Moving this video to Deano's personal queue. It failed to receive enough votes to get sifted up to the front page within 2 days.

I'll second DFT's recommendation on Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. The percussion parts are amazing there.

This is interesting but as mentioned above this may not be a good example of precision timpani playing, not an easy arrangement I'd assume.