Editing Timpani (section)

=== Pre-orchestral history ===
The first recorded use of early Tympanum was in "ancient times when it is known that they were used in religious ceremonies by Hebrews."<ref name=goodman/> The [[Moon of Pejeng]], also known as the ''Pejeng Moon'',<ref>For a thorough scholarly analysis of the Pejeng Moon and the type of drum named after it, see August Johan Bernet Kempers, "The Pejeng type," ''The Kettledrums of Southeast Asia: A Bronze Age World and Its Aftermath'' (Taylor & Francis, 1988), [https://books.google.com/books?id=ikSQw_-8gboC&pg=PA327&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=0_0#PPA327,M1 327]–340.</ref> in [[Bali]], the largest single-cast bronze [[kettledrum]] in the world,<ref>Iain Stewart and Ryan Ver Berkmoes, ''Bali & Lombok'' (Lonely Planet, 2007), [https://books.google.com/books?id=OY1puA2oNvUC&pg=PA203&dq=%22Moon+of+Pejeng%22+largest+drum&ei=ho-vSZ_nJJDCMu-GmJIF 203].</ref>  is more than two thousand years old.<ref>Yayasan Bumi Kita and Anne Gouyon, ''The Natural Guide to Bali: Enjoy Nature, Meet the People, Make a Difference'' (Tuttle Publishing, 2005), [https://books.google.com/books?id=RzUPfuQ1GO0C&pg=PP111&dq=%22Moon+of+Pejeng%22+over+2000+years+old&ei=QpCvSZrgF5nMMt-SgF8#PPP111,M1 109].</ref>  The Moon of Pejeng is "the largest known relic from Southeast Asia's [[Bronze Age]] period."<ref name="Pringle">{{cite book| last = Pringle| first = Robert| title = Bali: Indonesia's Hindu Realm; A short history of| url = https://archive.org/details/shorthistorybali00prin| url-access = limited| pages = [https://archive.org/details/shorthistorybali00prin/page/n46 28]–40| publisher = [[Allen & Unwin]]| series = Short History of Asia Series
| year = 2004| isbn = 978-1-86508-863-1}}</ref> The drum is in the [[Pura Penataran Sasih]] temple."<ref>Rita A. Widiadana, "[http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2002/06/06/get-touch-with-bali039s-cultural-heritage.html Get in touch with Bali's cultural heritage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705020403/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2002/06/06/get-touch-with-bali039s-cultural-heritage.html |date=5 July 2009 }}," ''The Jakarta Post'' (6 June 2002).</ref>

[[File:Nagara, a percussion instrument, Rajasthan.jpg|upright|left|thumb|A [[naqareh]] from [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]]]
In 1188, [[Cambro-Norman]] chronicler [[Gerald of Wales]] wrote, "''Ireland uses and delights in two instruments only, the harp namely, and the tympanum.''"<ref>Topographia Hibernica, III.XI; tr. O'Meary, p. 94.</ref>

Arabian [[naqareh|nakers]], the direct ancestors of most timpani, were brought to 13th-century [[Continental Europe]] by [[The Crusades|Crusader]]s and [[Saracen]]s.<ref name=bridge>{{cite web |url=http://myhome.sunyocc.edu/~bridger/morepages/subpages/timpconstpaper.pdf |title=Timpani Construction paper |access-date=18 February 2008 |last=Bridge |first=Robert |archive-date=29 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529123133/http://myhome.sunyocc.edu/~bridger/morepages/subpages/timpconstpaper.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> These drums, which were small (with a [[diameter]] of about {{convert|8|to(-)|8+1/2|in|cm|0}}) and mounted to the player's belt, were used primarily for [[military]] [[Ceremony|ceremonies]]. This form of timpani remained in use until the 16th century. In 1457, a [[Hungary|Hungarian]] [[legation]] sent by [[Ladislaus Posthumus of Bohemia and Hungary|King Ladislaus V]] carried larger timpani mounted on [[horse]]back to the court of [[Charles VII of France|King Charles VII]] in [[France]]. This variety of timpani had been used in the [[Middle East]] since the 12th century. These drums evolved together with [[trumpet]]s to be the primary instruments of the [[cavalry]]. This practice continues to this day in sections of the [[British Army]], and timpani continued to be paired with trumpets when they entered the [[european classical music|classical]] [[orchestra]].<ref name="Timpani and Percussion">{{cite book |last1=Seaman |first1=Christopher |last2=Richards |first2=Michael |title=Inside Conducting |date=2013 |publisher=University of Rochester Press, Boydell & Brewer |location=Rochester |isbn=978-1-58046-411-6 |pages=149–150 |edition=1st|jstor=10.7722/j.ctt3fgm4p.2 }}</ref>

The medieval European timpani were typically put together by hand in the southern region of France. Some drums were tightened together by horses tugging from each side of the drum by the bolts. Over the next two centuries, a number of technical improvements were made to the timpani. Originally, the head was nailed directly to the shell of the drum. In the 15th century, heads began to be attached and tensioned by a counterhoop tied directly to the shell. In the early 16th century, the bindings were replaced by [[screw]]s. This allowed timpani to become tunable instruments of [[definite pitch]].<ref name=grove/> The [[Industrial Revolution]] enabled the introduction of new construction techniques and materials, in particular machine and pedal tuning mechanisms. Plastic heads were introduced in the mid-20th century, led by [[Remo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://remo.com/company/ |title=Company |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Remo Inc. |access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>