timpani

Two men wrestled three large timpani drums up the steps to the space before the altar.

Then, as the trumpets blared and the timpani went wild, a voice broke out from the conductor’s podium.

The show in the conservatory’s packed auditorium opened with models in punk attire walking through the auditorium to timpani drumbeats.

A timpani’s rumble rising softly off growling cellos.

Both concertos begin with a rumbling in the timpani, barely the outline of a rhythm, but enough of a motif to inspire developments in the orchestral and violin parts that build to strenuous emotional heights.