Went to a concert the other day at the local college. I sat in the balcony so I was looking down on the orchestra. As I sat there looking at the percusion section I was struck by a thought - I have never seen a kettledrum in my life that did not have a dent in it. It it just me or has anyone else noticed the same? What is it about timpani that they all look like they've been dropped down a flight of stairs?
Timpani are incredibly awkward to move and very expensive to replace.