Student question: bass drum vs. timpani

[Rachmaninoff]

AFAIK the bass drum is not pitched, it's more "booom" than the timpani, which can be rolled and etc. So, what advice do you give me when orchestrating for the bass drum?

• Never blend with the timpani?
• Blend with the timpani to have a stronger effect?
• Use only rarely?
• Use only with cymbals?
• [Whatever else here]?

Thanks.

[rojo]

Sorry, offhand I have no idea, Rach. Maybe just do what you feel the piece requires?

[Contratrombone64]

Bass Drum's a wonderful thing, as someone who spends a lot of time using in in orchestrations I produce I'll tell you how I use it:

I agree about not using it in unison (rhythmically) with the timpani as it's probably overkill. I like it rolled (double headed drum stick is essential AND a bass drum on a tilting device) really softly under sustain brass and wind chords.

Obviously with the cymbals in unison, loudly, to give emphasis in tutti passages.

Look at Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra ... he's one of the most brilliant at scoring for percussion. Also Rimsky-Korsakov's guide to orchestration has fantastic examples of the bass drum and his recommendations for use.

[NEB]

Young person's guide actually has a whole section that is devoted to the percussion section and shows a broad range of instruments that are then included in the climactic finish...

[Rachmaninoff]

I have Rimsky-Korsakov's, but I didn't finish reading it yet. I didn't know Britten's, but I'll look forward. Thanks Contratrombone and NEB.

Oh Contratrombone, rolled timpani really give an interesting "thunder-like" effect. And a that's exactly what I thought about bass drum + cymbals: strong effect (much like the rock drummer using the bass drum and the cymbal at the same time).

I'm currently studying Rachmaninoff's Rapsody on a Theme of Paganini score. There is a staff for bass drum, but it didn't appear yet (I'm on the first variation, BTW). That's why I became curious.

[NEB]

You might take a good look at the score for Verdi's Otello - Act 1 the storm sequence. There is a lot of percussion work in there, and you'll get some good ideas from how he has used the bass drum and cymbals in that .

[Krummhorn]

Hi Rachmaninoff,

You might also check out this thread of Frederik Magle's Complete List of Free MP3 Downloads, in particular "The Hope" for brass band, chorus, organ & percussion. I believe for that recording he used several bass drums (broke several heads during rehearsals sessions if memory serves correctly) for the performances. Mr. Magle is an excellent contemporary composer and this is one of his finest classical pieces I've heard.

[Contratrombone64]

Bass drum trivia - the double headed bass drum stick (used for articulating rolls/trills) was called a tampon. Look it up in an old Groove's dictionary.