Timpani

Info:A large large bowl-shaped metal drum with a parchment or plastic head usually struck with wooden sticks covered in felt. Timpani, sometimes spelled tympani or called kettledrums, are the most frequently used percussion instruments in the modern orchestra. The six pedal activated tuning rods, tighten or loosen their grip on the head, changing the tuning almost instantaneously. Timpani can be traced to military drums used by Turkish soldiers during the 15th century. Europe quickly adopted them and by the 17th century they were already common in large instrumental ensembles.