'Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes'

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Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - wfeg, 21 Oct 05:21AM
     Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Adrian Drover, 21 Oct 07:42AM
         Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Laurence Payne, 21 Oct 08:41AM
             Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - wfeg, 21 Oct 08:59AM
                 Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Laurence Payne, 21 Oct 09:06AM
                     Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Adrian Drover, 21 Oct 09:45AM

Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes
Posted by wfeg - 21 Oct 05:21AM
I have a timpani part with multiple changes in key e.g. it starts in timpani in C,G; then changes to timpani in A,Es, then Es muta in D, then D muta in E, and finally muta in C,F.

Questions:
1) I presume that you do NOT have to create more than 1 timpani staff in your score?
2) If that is the case, and you plug in the changes in key on the one timpani staff, how does Sibelius know to change key for the timpani when you play back the score?

I have attached an example timpani part with these key changes inserted into one timpani staff. This, of course, is only an example taken from a score.

--
wfeg
Attachment Example of timpani part with change of key.sib (40K)
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes
Posted by Adrian Drover - 21 Oct 07:42AM (edited 21 Oct 07:50AM)
These are not key changes. They are pitch changes. Instruction for the player to retune his drums. It is usual for timpani to be written in open key.
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes
Posted by Laurence Payne - 21 Oct 08:41AM
Your timpani part is fine. You have written the right notes, you have given the player instructions when to retune, it plays back correctly. What's the problem?

There's an antique convention of treating Timpani as a transposing instrument. Notation was always C and G, written instructions told the player what the actual notes were. If you wanted to reproduce this style in Sibelius, you could create a set of Timpain instruments with different transpositions - Timps in D & A, Timps in Eb & Bb etc. But that's only if you're transcribing an early score. Don't worry about it!
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes
Posted by wfeg - 21 Oct 08:59AM
Adrian and Laurence
Thank you for your speedy replies.
I guess my concern is how does Sibelius know what timpani notes to play? In a transposing instrument, like a horn, Sibelius knows to transpose the notes accordingly. But how does Sibelius know what to do with the timpani part if there are only messages for the timpanist to re-tune his timpani?

--
wfeg
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes
Posted by Laurence Payne - 21 Oct 09:06AM (edited 21 Oct 09:20AM)
You're over-thinking this! Have you actually played the score you showed us?

There AREN'T "only messages...". You've written the right notes. This is the right way to do it. Sibelius plays them just fine.
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Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes
Posted by Adrian Drover - 21 Oct 09:45AM (edited 21 Oct 09:50AM)
The timpanum is a non-transposing instrument. You write the pitches (notes) you want played, sib will play them as written, and the player will tune the pitches to be played as instructed, tho' the instructions are practically unnecessary if the player is alert enough to recognize a change of actual notes. They're merely just an advance warning. I've always wondered why, at least in the symphony orchestra, the timpanist is regarded as a specialist percussionist.
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Messages in this thread

Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - wfeg, 21 Oct 05:21AM
     Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Adrian Drover, 21 Oct 07:42AM
         Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Laurence Payne, 21 Oct 08:41AM
             Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - wfeg, 21 Oct 08:59AM
                 Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Laurence Payne, 21 Oct 09:06AM
                     Re: Sib. 7.5: Timpani part with key changes - Adrian Drover, 21 Oct 09:45AM