tim·pa·ni

also tym·pa·ni (tĭm′pə-nē)

pl.n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb)

A set of tunable kettledrums typically used in the percussion section of a symphony orchestra.

[Italian, pl. of timpano, kettledrum, from Latin tympanum, drum; see tympanum.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

timpani

(ˈtɪmpənɪ) or

tympani

pl n

(Instruments) (sometimes functioning as singular) a set of kettledrums, two or more in number. Often (informal) shortened to: timps

[from Italian, pl of timpano kettledrum, from Latin: tympanum]

ˈtimpanist, ˈtympanist n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

tim•pa•ni

or tym•pa•ni

(ˈtɪm pə ni)
n. (used with a sing. or pl. v.)

a set of kettledrums.

[1735–45; < Italian, pl. of timpano kettledrum < Latin tympanum < Greek týmpanon]

tim′pa•nist, n.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

timpani - a large hemispherical brass or copper percussion instrument with a drumhead that can be tuned by adjusting the tension on it

kettledrum, tympani, tympanum, kettle

percussion instrument, percussive instrument - a musical instrument in which the sound is produced by one object striking another

Translations

üstdob

trống định âm

timpani

[ˈtɪmpənɪ] NPL (Mus) → tímpanos mpl, timbales mpl

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

timpani

[ˈtɪmpəni] npl → timbales fpl

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

timpani

pl (Mus) → Timpani pl, → Kesselpauken pl

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

timpani

[ˈtɪmpənɪ] npl (Mus) → timpani mpl

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

It still didn't convince me that the concerto's not really three piano rhapsodies with ad libitum strings, as brass, wind and timpani spend most of their time with arms folded.

REVIEWS

Cast for four trumpets, two horns, two trombones, euphonium, tuba, and timpani, the A section of the rondo format always uses the full brass choir, while the intervening phrases use smaller forces to emphasize the contrasts.

Prelude to Te Deum

The Eugene Symphony will hold auditions in September and October for the following vacancies: concertmaster, principal cello, principal trombone, principal timpani, assistant horn and section first violin.

OPPORTUNITIES

Hammers on steel, a strong brass presence and thundering timpani are what might be expected but they arise in a natural and convincing way from the musical material as Smedley depicts - with, you sense, a feeling of pride - the majesty and might of an industry that once lined our great rivers.

Weekend concerts prove a soaring success

* DRUMMING UP SUCCESS: Sam Beevers on the timpani (PC280610Fschool-01) * MUSIC TO THE EARS: Dame Evelyn Glennie plays the timpani for the pupils (PC280610Fschool-05) * SOUND OF SUCCESS: Joe Barstow on the drum kit and Jenny Pearson on the xylophone (PC280610Fschool-02)

Good vibrations from percussionist's visit

The exceptions are: timpani notation and carryover of accidentals, which can produce semitone errors; natural harmonics notated at lingered pitch, which can produce errors of a few large intervals; baritone horn and euphonium clef dependencies, which can produce errors of a major ninth; and scordatura and scores in C, which can lead to errors of almost any range.

Written vs. sounding pitch

THE thunder of 14 kettle drums shook the Philharmonic Hall for the recording of the first ever double concerto for timpani.

Recording goes with abang

Joshua Bell's premiere of a violin concerto (Thursday, repeated Saturday) coupled with a double concerto for percussion and timpani by the Polish-born 20th century composer Andrzej Panufnik will be remembered by those who experienced it as a refreshingly engaging and uplifting occasion.

Phillip Keys Arts Diary: Tragedy of the empty seats

Duplex, for 4 melodic timpani, multiple percussion and piano (3 players), by Jean Batigne.

Duplex

The visual entertainment for the evening was undoubtedly the drama-king timpani player.

Stunning evening of Russian classics; REVIEW

One of the highlights of the night came when drummer Butch moved down to his Timpani and started bounding out the theme of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

: Slip sliding away on a music fest; THE EELS Glasgow Royal Concert Hall