Simon Rattle as Timpanist

[llsds1]

it's really odd seeing this. you sometimes forget that conductors actually play instruments lol

[5botball]

Being a percussionist is very difficult. I am a violinist but have worked with percussion players as a composition major so I understand what they go through.

[miopiano]

of course he'd be great playing percussion. The clue is in the name

[Elhuende]

This great conductor is a very bad timpanist ! it's a pity

one who thinks that timpani is easy instrument, i would say you are simply

ignorant.

[turnawry]

@Elhuende What's bad his performance?

[PercPhreak]

@turnawry roll speeds and playing zones, but very good nonetheless

[raincatw]

who?

Who is the one doesn't like it?

[athlonvn]

He can be a Rock Star :))

[Schwabel3]

look at those roll speeds!

[leoncioviolin]

BRAVO

[wagneristhebest]

anyone can play timpani with a little musical understanding and a good ear. It's really not a difficult instrument.

[avelyra]

@wagneristhebest no you can't. Sorry to say, but percussion is actually one of the most difficult instruments to play. you have to master all the instruments, and the timpani are no exception. you have to know how to do the tremolos, the dampening, the dinamics, the staccattos etc.

[wagneristhebest]

@avelyra true but this is in the case of playing a timpani well! and furthermore, your comment 'one of the most difficult instruments to play' is ridiculous - it dosent compare at all with a flute or the violin! it's difficult to master in ensemble terms yes, but definately among the easier instruments of the orchestra to play, and the majority of parts - for example mozart symphonies which require very primitative skill - show this.

[freshhh1994]

@avelyra

He didn't say percussion. He only specified timpani.

[MrEggFried]

@wagneristhebest You're a dick job. Shut the fuck up. He's also properly good.

[changjiang001]

One highlight of Rattle's Brahms Symphonies cycle is timpani. He is really a master of performing it!

[davisbone]

joking

[OTTO912]

Tja Dirigenten sollten halt doch das machen was Sie am besten können! Dirigieren und nicht die Pauken vergewaltigen! hahahah terrible

[triondrummer]

@OTTO912 I suggest you play it better then and post it online......and we´ll see! Jerk!

[1udwi6]

solo un minuto???? 

[timmy998877]

Rattle for President!

[minimalist147]

I greatly appreciate his ability with a baton.

[davisbone]

if you think THIS is good you should see Klemperer playing a triangle!!!he' just f..... amazing!!

[paharazk]

@davisbone where could I see him? or your just joking? (:

[rhythmscape]

now there's a conductor we like!

[violinguy100]

What a legend. Rattle Rules!

[salsadance999]

wads the song?

[NitramZiarreh]

I couldn't find the full performance of this at the link provided in the info box. Was it removed?

[BerlinPhil]

The link actually works - please make sure you don't copy it incompletely. If anything fails, just go to the Digital Concert Hall and look up the May concerts in the video archive.

[DECBAR]

For the first time ever, I have seen a conductor play timpani. This is an amazing clip.

[Jitpring]

Very nice. There was a famous composer who was a timpanist. I forget who.

[dcs103]

@Jitpring Matthus. Whose work you are hearing...

[OfillodeMariPili]

esto con unos tambores de colón debe ser la hostia

[finnishredder]

Rattle is amazing!

[veijeiro]

k kalidad d videoo!! muxas felicidades

[MaxxUS08]

Finally, a timpani concerto which doesn't sound Baroque or...GLASS-ish.

[upperstringlover710]

So is this his primary instrument?

[ym860912]

I think it is piano

[Sinneo91]

Yes, timpani is his primary.

[freshhh1994]

needs more practice

[djstkora]

Brilliiant... he sucks

[classiccandle27]

Wow! I love how the orchestra's set up with those five winds!

[redhotchiliangel]

Amazing! Ratlle rules!

[crazypianist1234]

This is amazing. Thank you so much for the high quality videos.

[alejandra379]

YEEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

[bdmntnfan]

Thanks. That helped.

[bdmntnfan]

Is timpani the main instrument here ? What I mean here is like in a violin concerto, the violin is the main instrument. ???

[BerlinPhil]

The work is actually a concert for five wind instruments and orchestra. This opening is the only solo for the timpani.

[lkszt]

It's good to know that Mr. Rattle didn't have to spend too much time practicing :) Thank you for the wonderful videos! They make my day every time!

[anzdf]

Excelente.

[pinky0926]

This is great! Go Simon.

[PPchopin]

simon is the best¡

[gwaur]

Is the timpani his main instrument or something? :P

[BerlinPhil]

Sort of. He studied piano, percussion and conducting at the Royal Academy of Music. Siegfried Matthus writes in his score: "If the conductor happens to be a percussionist as well, I kindly ask him to play this opening himself." And that's what Sir Simon did at the premiere of the work in May 2009.

[octavianmihailescu]

@BerlinPhil "If the conductor happens to be a percussionist as well, I kindly ask him to play this opening himself." ??? Hahahahaha, insane!

[JackSafferyRowe]

Fantastich

[Susannekaffeekanne]

Barborak freut sich auf den Einsatz :D

Siiiiiiiiiiiimon! :) Yeah!

[Marlene55M]

Yeah! Sir Simon rocks!!! :-)