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William Tell Overture (Rossini)
Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture is one of the most celebrated and iconic pieces in orchestral repertoire. Leonardo Soto, principal timpanist of the Houston Symphony, has arranged this famous, fast-paced melody for solo timpani!
This arrangement involves many tuning changes and technical demands. Also, since orchestral auditions for timpani often require a melodic solo of the performer’s choosing, this arrangement is especially suited for this purpose. It is playable on 4 or 5 drums and includes sticking and tuning suggestions from Leonardo himself.
William Tell Overture is professionally printed and bound and ships with a full color cover.
• 4 or 5 timpani*
*This solo is written to be performed in an audition setting (4 drums), or in a recital setting (addition of piccolo timpani for the high B). If no piccolo drum is available, these notes are playable one octave down.
This 2-minute arrangement of Rossini’s familiar work is a journey through all the famous and recognizable melodic lines, but played entirely on timpani. The arranger gives options for 4-drum and 5-drum setups, and has mapped out very logical tuning suggestions, complete with directions for which drums to utilize when moving through the melodic lines.
The arranger states that orchestras routinely ask for a melodic solo for timpani auditions, which prompted this rendition. With the demands on tuning and matching pitch operating at such a high level, this piece could also work well as an assignment for students needing a challenge within their timpani curriculum. Within the work, there are no mutings or mufflings indicated, which could serve as a bonus level of challenge for students as they develop their ear towards clarity within a timpani line.
—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 5, October 2021
Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture is one of the most celebrated and iconic pieces in orchestral repertoire. Leonardo Soto, principal timpanist of the Houston Symphony, has arranged this famous, fast-paced melody for solo timpani!
This arrangement involves many tuning changes and technical demands. Also, since orchestral auditions for timpani often require a melodic solo of the performer’s choosing, this arrangement is especially suited for this purpose. It is playable on 4 or 5 drums and includes sticking and tuning suggestions from Leonardo himself.
William Tell Overture is professionally printed and bound and ships with a full color cover.
• 4 or 5 timpani*
*This solo is written to be performed in an audition setting (4 drums), or in a recital setting (addition of piccolo timpani for the high B). If no piccolo drum is available, these notes are playable one octave down.
This 2-minute arrangement of Rossini’s familiar work is a journey through all the famous and recognizable melodic lines, but played entirely on timpani. The arranger gives options for 4-drum and 5-drum setups, and has mapped out very logical tuning suggestions, complete with directions for which drums to utilize when moving through the melodic lines.
The arranger states that orchestras routinely ask for a melodic solo for timpani auditions, which prompted this rendition. With the demands on tuning and matching pitch operating at such a high level, this piece could also work well as an assignment for students needing a challenge within their timpani curriculum. Within the work, there are no mutings or mufflings indicated, which could serve as a bonus level of challenge for students as they develop their ear towards clarity within a timpani line.
—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 5, October 2021
