Timpani (and Percussion) FAQ - Student Pages
These pages are designed for aspiring professional timpanists and percussionists.
(DAT) Basic Orchestral Repertoire for Timpani
These lists are based on my database of timpani repertoire from many auditions over the last 10-15 years.
A few suggestions first:
1. Much of this repertoire is available in a few publications that are simple collections of the original parts. These are:
- Classical Symphonies for Timpani
- Romantic Symphonies for Timpani
- Classical Overtures for Timpani
These were compiled by the late Morris Goldenberg, and are available and in print.
2. Use only the original parts when preparing this repertoire. Avoid any edited versions. You can get copies of the original parts from reprint publishers such as Kalmus and Luck's. Most professionals have large collections of photocopied parts they have acquired over the years. Access to a symphony orchestra's library is also very helpful. I would be happy to assist with reasonable requests for material from my own library, e-mail me (datimp@cox.net) for details.
3. Study of the full scores of these works is highly recommended.
4. Even though only a particular section of a work may be requested on an audition list, if at all possible the entire part must be prepared.
5. If a particular work is only available via rental from the publisher, these are your options:
- a. Find another player who has the part who can copy it for you.
- b. Get it out of an edited collection, then check it against the full score.
- c. Order the part directly from the publisher (in some cases they will send it to you).
- d. Copy the part yourself out of the full score.
This brings up questions of copyright, as long as as the part is only for your personal use and you don't distribute it that's OK.
That said, here is the list:
Samuel Barber
Medea's Meditation and Dance of Vengeance, op. 23a
Bártok
Concerto for Orchestra
Beethoven
Symphony #1, op. 21
Symphony #5, op. 67
Symphony #7, op. 92
Symphony #9, op. 125
Brahms
Symphony #1, op. 68
Elgar
Enigma Variations, op. 36
Hindemith
Symphonic Metamorphosis
Frank Martin
Concerto for Seven Winds, Strings and Timpani
Mozart
Symphony #39, K. 543
William Schuman
New England Triptych
Shostakovich
Symphony #1, op.10
Richard Strauss
Burleske for Piano and Orchestra
Stravinsky
Le Sacre du Printemps
Tchaikovsky
Symphony #4, op.36
Wagner
Siegfried's Funeral Music from "Götterdämmerung"
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-- More timpani repertoire to augment this basic collection --
Direct your comments or suggestions for more questions to:
email to Dwight Thomas at:
datimp@cox.net
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