Timpani are the big drums you see at the back of an orchestra. They look like huge copper or fibreglass bowls with skin stretched over the top, so people also call them kettledrums.

Timpani are the big drumsTimpani 是你在管弦樂團後方看到的那種大鼓 you see at the back of an orchestra。They look like huge copper or fibreglass bowls它們看起來像是巨大的銅製或玻璃纖維碗 with skin stretched over the top上面繃著皮，so people also call them kettledrums所以人們也叫它們 kettledrums。

Two things make them special. First, each one is tuned to a note, so a timpani player is not just keeping time — they are playing pitches, and they change the pitch with a foot pedal while the music goes on. Second, they usually come in a set of two, three, four or more, played by one person with soft-headed sticks.

Two things make them special有兩件事讓它們特別。First第一，each one is tuned to a note每一顆鼓都調到特定音高，so a timpani player is not just keeping time所以打定音鼓的人不只是在打拍子——they are playing pitches他們是在演奏音高，and they change the pitch with a foot pedal而且會用腳踏板改變音高 while the music goes on演奏時。Second第二，they usually come in a set of two, three, four or more它們通常一組有兩顆、三顆、四顆或更多，played by one person with soft-headed sticks由一個人用軟頭鼓棒演奏。

That is why the word is almost always plural: you say 'the timpani are' and 'he plays timpani', not 'a timpani'. The single drum is a timpano, but honestly, most musicians never say that word out loud.

That is why the word is almost always plural這就是為什麼這個字幾乎總是複數：you say 'the timpani are' and 'he plays timpani', not 'a timpani'你會說 'the timpani are' 和 'he plays timpani'，而不是 'a timpani'。The single drum is a timpano單一一顆鼓是 timpano，but honestly, most musicians never say that word out loud但老實說，大多數音樂家根本不會把這個字說出口。

In a school or a shop you will more often hear 'kettledrums', and in rock or film-music talk people just say 'the big drums'. When writers use the word outside music, they use it for a deep rolling sound — thunder, or a heavy heartbeat — because that low boom is what timpani are famous for.

In a school or a shop在學校或樂器行裡 you will more often hear 'kettledrums'你比較常聽到 'kettledrums'，and in rock or film-music talk在搖滾樂或電影配樂的討論裡 people just say 'the big drums'人們就直接說 'the big drums'。When writers use the word outside music當作家在音樂之外使用這個字時，they use it for a deep rolling sound他們是用它來形容一種低沉的隆隆聲——thunder, or a heavy heartbeat雷聲，或沉重的心跳——because that low boom is what timpani are famous for因為那種低沉的轟隆聲正是 timpani 出名的地方。