"The timpani community is very collegial — a lot ... motivated by fundamental curiosity, seeking outward," he says. "Music and art is this similar curiosity, but it's seeking inward, to try ...

Or “them,” I should say. For one thing — as auto-correct reminds me — “timpani” is plural. For another, Sunday’s performance, led by National Symphony Orchestra timpanist Scott ...

He moved into timpani, also known as kettle drums, which are unique in being tuned, via a pedal and the player’s ear. (When you see timpanists crouched with an ear right over the drum skin ...

The trumpets and drums that open the third cantata are Baroque models – valveless trumpets and low-tech timpani.

The chirruping piccolo in the final minutes was a novelty and those explosive thwacks from the timpani were back (oh, to be the percussionist let loose like that). Roll on the next eight weeks.