timpani
Tunable copper drums
Timpani are large bowl-shaped drums with heads that can be tuned to specific pitches, typically played in sets of two to four.
A staple of orchestral percussion, they provide both rhythmic foundation and dramatic emphasis: The timpani thundered through the finale.
Also called kettledrums.
The singular timpano is rarely used; timpani serves for one or many.
Tunable orchestral drum
- kettledrumsTuned orchestral percussion
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- symphonyExtended composition for orchestra
- conductorOne who directs musicians
philharmonic · ensemble · score · concerto · overture · maestro · classical · opera
Struck membrane instruments
- tablaIndian paired hand drums
- djembeHand-struck goblet drum
- bongosJoined pair of drums
- congaCuban hand drum
snare · bass drum · tom-tom · timbales · tambour · cajón · bodhrán · drumhead
Headed striking tools
- rollsSmall rounded breads
- tuningAdjusting pitch accuracy
- pedalsFoot-operated levers
- strokesGentle touches, swimming styles
damping · muffling · glissando · tremolo · articulation · staccato · legato · crossover
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- pulseArterial blood throb
- meterDevice that measures usage
measure · ostinato · pattern · fills · accents · downbeat · entrance · cue
Gradual increase in loudness
- fortissimoVery loud, musically
- pianissimoExtremely quiet, in scores
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
- rumbleLow rolling sound
boom · accent · attack · sustain · decay · resonance · projection · power
kettledrum
Tunable orchestral drum
- kettledrumsTuned orchestral percussion
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- symphonyExtended composition for orchestra
conductor · philharmonic · ensemble · score · concerto · overture · maestro · classical · opera · movement
drums
Struck membrane instruments
conga · snare · bass drum · tom-tom · timbales · tambour · cajón · bodhrán · drumhead · copper
mallets
Headed striking tools
strokes · damping · muffling · glissando · tremolo · articulation · staccato · legato · crossover · grip
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
meter · measure · ostinato · pattern · fills · accents · downbeat · entrance · cue · timing
crescendo
Gradual increase in loudness
- fortissimoVery loud, musically
- pianissimoExtremely quiet, in scores
- thunderousExtremely loud, resounding
rumble · boom · accent · attack · sustain · decay · resonance · projection · power · dramatic
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- drumsbass drum, bongo, tambourine, snare, snare drum
- orchestraorchestra, symphony orchestra, philharmonic, strings, string orchestra
- percussionbass drum, bongos, cajon, drum, congas
- drum soundsbeat, boom, drumroll, hit, kick
- instrumentosviolin, piano, flauta, cello, viola