Churches seldom own (or rent) more that two timpani. Composers and arrangers keep writing for 3-4 drums. In dozens of rehearsals, I have scribbled a few marks on a timp part and managed to perform a satisfactory version with just the 26” and 29” kettles.
Here are some pauken pointers for making do with just two:
- Tune the 29” timpano to E rather that F. This gives you the low resonate E to use rather that just the high (less resonant) E on the 26” drum. Many charts go down to the low E.
- Switch octaves. If the pitches are Eb - Bb, simply flip it and make it Bb - Eb.
- Substitute another chord tone. If the chord is D major and the timpani part calls for a D but the pitch change is too clumsy with the two drum set-up, try playing the fifth (A) or the third (F#) if either is more accessible.
- Use the nodal area. The center of the timp head is a dead zone (very little resonance or pitch). In a rapid passage, some notes can be played in the center to give the percussive sound without a strong definite pitch.
- Alter the rhythm and /or pitches. A part consisting of four 16th notes (ex. F-G -A -Bb) could be reduced to eighth notes (F -A) or pitches doubled for the 16th effect (F-F-A-A).
- Delete a passage. Some sections may not lend themselves to editing. Just leave it out. If it is covered elsewhere (bass, tuba, bassoon), just allow that voice to carry the moment.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
Finally, some advice to help with those quick pitch changes that you will encounter as you reduce the part down to two timps:
- Sit on a stool so that you can have a foot on each pedal.
- Tuning Gauges…Get ‘em. Set ‘em. Use ‘em.
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