Object Record
Images
Additional Images [3]
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2017.07.04 |
Object Type |
Timpanum |
Creator |
GP Percussion |
Title |
Timpani |
Description |
23" Dresden-style timpani. Parabolic hand-hammered copper bowl made from 2 sheets of copper. On cast frame with 4 wheels, two of which are fixed. Left side of drum has pedal with "GP" cast into footplate. Footplate is aluminum with brass ratchet. 8 steel lugs and fine-tuning post. 4 struts are painted black. |
Dimensions |
H-34.25 Dia-30 inches |
People |
Kite, Rebecca Allen, Barbara GP Percussion |
Date |
c. 1980 |
Additional Research |
GP Percussion was incorporated by Rebecca Kite and Barbara Allen in 1982 to create and market timpani with an improved design and sound. The introduction to the percussion community at PASIC '84 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, resulted in an immediate sale, and the first set of production timpani was delivered in 1985. Their design process focused on the sound-producing part of the drum (bowl and frame) and then the pedal mechanism, resulting in four U.S. patents. Specific improvements include inserting a rack-and-pinion gear, creating a true vertical pull of the spider, modular sound producing and pedal tuning components that could be separated for ease of transport, a crank-chain tuning mechanism for tuning by hand, precision-machined support ring and bearing edge, and additional leverage in the pedal mechanism for ease of obtaining high pitches. Another improvement was strengthening the support of the copper bowl, as well as a new parabolic bowl design, correctly shaped and sized for each desired range of pitches. To achieve this, they learned the traditional copper-smithing skills and techniques required to make timpani bows at D. Picking and Co., in Bucyrus, Ohio, a company founded in 1874. Sculptor Mark Wallis created wood patterns for the aluminum sand cast frame parts (to Kite's mechanical specifications), which were aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. This timpano, which has a bowl diameter of 23.5 inches, is one of a set of four prototype timpani. It, as well as the remaining drums, with diameters measuring 25.5, 28.5 and 32 inches, were used by Kite as her personal set throughout her career. Percussive Notes, November 2018. |
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Credit line |
Gift of Rebecca Kite |