The
timpani are something of a special case, since they are the only percussion
instrument present in nearly all orchestral music, and they are played
by a specialist player who will not normally play any other percussion
instrument.
After
that, there may be any number of percussion instruments in a composition.
It is important that the composer or orchestrator pay attention to the
physical requirements of the section, and in particular the choreography
of both players and beaters. A common mistake is to allow insufficient
time for players to change instrument or pick up new beaters.
Use
the links on the left to sample various percussion scorings from the
Philharmonia's recorded archive.
Tuned
|
COMPOSER
|
WORK
|
CD
|
EXCERPT
|
COMMENTS
|
|
Gustav
Holst
|
The
Planets: Uranus
|
Philharmonia/Gardiner
DG445 860-2
|
|
A
vigorous timp solo leading to a tutti. |
|
Camille
Saint-Saens
|
Carnival
des Animaux: Fossiles
|
Philharmonia/Yu
IMP 30366 00012
|
|
A
celebrated xylophone solo. |
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Untuned
|
COMPOSER
|
WORK
|
CD
|
EXCERPT
|
COMMENTS
|
|
Gustav
Mahler
|
Symphony
No. 4
|
Philharmonia/Zander
Telarc 2CD-80555
|
|
Sleigh
bells, or jingles, with two flutes. |
|
Igor
Stravinsky
|
The
Rite of Spring
|
Philharmonia/Salonen
Sony SK45796
|
|
Dampened
tam-tam, joined by guiro, leading to a tutti climax. |
|
Magnus
Lindberg
|
Fresco
|
Philharmonia/Salonen
Sony Classical SK 89810
|
|
Tam-tams,
metal plates and bowed Chinese cymbals, with brass and other instruments
picking up the timbres. |
|
Claude
Debussy
|
Prélude
a l'après-midi d'un faune |
Philharmonia/Cantelli
Testament SBT 1011
|
|
A
celebrated passage using antique cymbals.
|
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