tympanist
Orchestra's drum specialist
A tympanist is a musician who plays the timpani, the large kettle-shaped drums found in orchestras and concert bands.
The term is interchangeable with timpanist, though the latter spelling is more common in modern usage.
Tympanists must master precise tuning of their drums, often adjusting pitch mid-performance using foot pedals.
The tympanist's dramatic entrance marked the symphony's climax.
Tunable orchestral percussion
- kettledrumsTuned orchestral percussion
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- bowlsDeep rounded containers
- headsTop of bodies
skin · mallets · sticks · pedals · tuning · gauges · pitch · resonance
Extended composition for orchestra
- philharmonicLarge orchestra organization
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
- conductorOne who directs musicians
- maestroDistinguished musical leader
strings · woodwinds · brass · percussion section · pit · score · sinfonia · concerto
Unaccompanied performer
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- tempoRate of musical performance
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- pulseArterial blood throb
- meterDevice that measures usage
downbeat · upbeat · accent · pattern · timing · entrance · cue · measure
List of names
- tremoloRapid tonal wavering
- mufflingReducing sound intensity
- pedalingTurning bike cranks
- strokeSudden brain blood blockage
pianissimo · fortissimo · crescendo · decrescendo · dynamics · intonation · phrasing · legato
timpani
Tunable orchestral percussion
- kettledrumsTuned orchestral percussion
- copperReddish-brown metallic element
- bowlsDeep rounded containers
heads · skin · mallets · sticks · pedals · tuning · gauges · pitch · resonance · dampening
symphony
Extended composition for orchestra
- philharmonicLarge orchestra organization
- chamberEnclosed room or cavity
- conductorOne who directs musicians
maestro · strings · woodwinds · brass · percussion section · pit · score · sinfonia · concerto · opera
soloist
Unaccompanied performer
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
meter · downbeat · upbeat · accent · pattern · timing · entrance · cue · measure · syncopation
roll
List of names
stroke · pianissimo · fortissimo · crescendo · decrescendo · dynamics · intonation · phrasing · legato · staccato
tympanistconcertmaster
Principal first violinist
conductor · vocalist · violinist · flutist · string player