timpani

Timpani is the Italian plural of timpano, from Latin tympanum, from Greek tympanon (a drum, from typtein, to strike). The word names large hemispherical drums made of copper or fiberglass with a calfskin or synthetic head. Timpani are unique among drums: they are tuned to specific pitches by adjusting the tension of the head using foot pedals or hand screws. A timpanist in an orchestra tunes and retunes between movements, sometimes between measures.

Kettledrums were used in the Middle East and Central Asia for centuries before arriving in Europe. Ottoman military bands — the mehter — used paired kettle drums called nakkare. Crusaders and traders brought them back to Europe in the 13th century. By the 15th century, kettledrums were standard in European cavalry units, mounted on horseback. The timpani entered the orchestra from the battlefield, as many instruments did.

Beethoven transformed how timpani were used. Before Beethoven, timpani typically played only the tonic and dominant notes of the key. Beethoven tuned them to unexpected intervals — in the Ninth Symphony, he tuned them to octave F's instead of the expected tonic-dominant pair. The timpani became a musical voice, not just a rhythmic one. Every orchestral composer since has followed Beethoven's expanded vision of what timpani can do.

The word timpani entered English from Italian in the 18th century. The anglicized singular 'timpano' is rarely used; timpani functions as both singular and plural in English usage. The instrument is also called kettle drums — from its resemblance to a cooking kettle — but timpani is the standard orchestral term.