The Evolution of Timpani Part 1: Introducing the Baroque Timpani
You can hear them in this Gabrieli Consort and Players recording of Bach’s Easter Oratorio and Magnificat.
I only have one of these in working order but 2-3 more to renovate. While the mechanism is a clever invention it probably fell out of fashion due to being slightly fragile, and also rapidly superseded by pedal timpani.
Verdi Requiem (1886) OAE/Alsop BBC Proms 2016
Wagner Das Rheingold (1869) OAE/Rattle Baden Baden 2004
Obviously these drums are very unusual. The bowls are made of strips of quite thin wood rather like barrels and are therefore extremely light. When played loudly the wood sometimes rattles and vibrates and so some work needs to be done on these drums to make them usable in performance.
Bach Weihnachts Oratorium highlights with Gabrieli Consort & Players / McCreesh, November 2020
BBC Documentary: Messiah at the Foundling Hospital, Gabrieli Consort & Players / McCreesh
The Evolution of Timpani Part 1 Introducing the Baroque Timpani
Mozart - Cosi fan tutte quick re-tuning; see separate post on this here
Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique with OAE and Sir Roger Norrington
2nd timpani Scott Bywater. Percussion Glyn Matthews, Ben Hoffnung, Richard Horne.
In rehearsal:
1st Movement
2nd Movement
3rd Movement
4th Movement
5th Movement
Haydn "Paukenmesse". BBC Proms 2015.
Hear these drums in Beethoven's 4th & 7th symphonies with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields directed by Joshua Bell.
Here is a video about Gabrieli Consort and Players' Grande Messe des Morts recording in 2010. At 4' 48" I talk about sponge-headed sticks.
With many thanks to the photographers and film makers who have allowed me to use their work; Stephen Tasker, Chris Christodolou (RCM), Tommy Pearson, Monika Rittershaus (Berliner Philharmoniker), Will Schofield, Glyn Matthews, Angus Bremner (SCO) and Zen Grisdale.
