Baroque Timpani solo

Variations on an Eighteenth Century Theme (published by J.E. Altenburg in 1795), improvised by Ben Harms on Baroque Timpani of his own design and manufacture.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Baroque
• Timpani
• Kettledrums
• Altenburg
• classical

[luvwithpiggy]

does it matter if the lower timpani is on the left side or the right side?

[harms42]

No. It appears most of the German virtuosos of the 18th c. played with the lower drum on the right (there may have been exceptions). As a modern American I learned the other way around. Basically, both hands (and wrists) need to be strong and flexible.

[grooms63941]

Nice double tap

[harms42]

Actually, they are all single strokes

[dreuxschwartz]

is this from the concerto for 7 trumpets by altenburg?

[harms42]

No. This theme is found at the top of p 130 of Altenburg's book on trumpet and timpani playing ("Versuch einer Anleitung zur heroisch-musikalischen Trompeter- und Paukerkunst"). His concerto for seven trumpets and timpani is found on p 133-142 of the same book.

[kingcap1226]

I really appriciate the articulation that you apply to the Baroque timps. I takes a great deal of controll to emulate the correct type of sound on the baroque timpani. It takes a great ear and proper hands to give the sound that you are properly demonstrating. I am espeacially found of the baroque timpani. I mean nothing beats a great set of Dres timps. But these timps are sooo awesome.

[norinflanders]

Thank you Ben for posting these great variations on the Aufzug. Some time back I did a transcription. You can see my recording on the video response

[jbnh]

Very nice playing! Bravo!

[pI8Sv9b4]

@lawrence18uk I'll refer you to the response to slevian34 (above). For any dynamic beyond pianissimo, I have never been able to get anything close to even dynamics with "field drum"bounces on timpani: the response from the skin is too slow. Alternating strokes for passages like the ones you cite - illustrated in the 1840's books by Kastner, Pfundt, and Reinhardt - provide convincing enough evidence that timpanists could (and would) perform them in that manner. Then there's all the improv...

[lawrence18uk]

@pI8Sv9b4 - aren't double-strokes used in Beethoven? - eg 8th Symphony finale FF-ff-FF-ff, and Missa Solemnis dd-AA-dd-AA etc. I played the latter hand-to-hand initially, but maybe it could be played better (more control over the crescendo) using double stokes?

[Hertzogxx]

Hi Ben; i'm really looking forward to your live performance of this next week!

[madberlin]

Is this Josef Firtzl on the timpanis?

[drumlikebonzo]

this is pretty special! I'm doing a music history paper about ornimentation on timpani during the baroque period...could i ask you some questions?

[pI8Sv9b4]

@timpani25 (from Ben Harms) Re: wooden sticks. A recent archival discovery in Germany has pushed back the making of felt-covered sticks to 1775 (a signed receipt from a furniture maker for 8 timpani sticks covered with felt as well as 4 uncovered). This is found on p 177 in a monumental collection of articles on historical percussion presented at a 2007conference in michaelstein cloister (Germany). It's Volume ("Heft") 75 of their publication series. 7 articles in English, 19 in German.

[pI8Sv9b4]

@bowiedj No. It's Ben Harms.