Timpani

Timpani are large kettledrums with stretched heads and adjustable pitch, played with mallets. They combine pitched notes with a powerful, resonant attack.

Kettledrum: A drum with a membrane stretched over a bowl-shaped resonator. Timpani are the orchestral form of this bowl-resonator drum.
Membrane vibration: The oscillation of a thin surface that produces sound when set in motion. A struck timpani head vibrates in complex modes rather than as a simple string.
Nakers: Small medieval kettledrums, often played in pairs and associated with mounted music. They are early European predecessors of orchestral timpani.
Orchestral tuning: The process of setting an orchestra's instruments to compatible reference pitches. Timpanists tune their drums to the pitches required by each passage.
Bass drum: A large drum that produces a low, usually indefinite-pitch sound. Unlike timpani, it emphasizes low impact rather than tuned notes.
Drumhead: A membrane stretched across a drum to vibrate when struck. Its tension determines the note timpani produce.
Harmonic series: A sequence of partial frequencies related to a fundamental frequency by whole-number ratios. Timpani tuning aligns prominent partials to make a stable perceived pitch.
Janissary music: Ottoman military music associated with the Janissary corps and its percussion instruments. European contact with Ottoman music helped popularize kettledrums.
Timpani roll: A sustained timpani sound made by rapidly alternating strokes, usually between the hands. Rolls let timpani sustain tones and build orchestral intensity.
Snare drum: A drum with wires stretched against its lower head, producing a sharp rattling sound. Its snare buzz and usually indefinite pitch contrast with timpani's resonant tones.

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