by Tony Oliver Timpani Solo (with crotales) Advanced $9.99 Digital Download
(From the composer) THE GENERAL IDEA: This piece makes use of sympathetic-resonance effects. Sympathetic resonances of the timpani (or “amplification” of the crotales, depending on how you look at it) occur when the pitches of the timpani are made to match those of the crotales (or of their overtones) that rest on them. The timpani then act as resonators for the crotales and an eerie kind of “singing” effect occurs. This effect is used in two ways in this piece:
1) By raising and lowering the pitch on the resonating drum, a type of “vibrato” or pulsing occurs as the sympathetic resonance phases in and out. (See the beginning and similar sections.) 2) By slowly raising the pitch of the resonating drum, the crotale pitches will become more resonant and “sing.”