Timbales
From Free net encyclopedia
Timbales (or tymbales) are shallow cylindrical single-headed drums, similar to single-headed tom-toms. The shells are referred to as cáscara (the Spanish word for shell) which is also the name of a rhytmic pattern common in salsa music that is played on the shells of the timbales. The shells are usually made of metal but some manufacturers offer shells made of maple and other woods. The heads are light and tuned fairly high for their size. A musician who plays the timbales is called a timbalero. Timbales is also the French word for timpani, thus the French refer to Afro-Cuban timbales as timbales latines. In fact, timbales were invented in the early 20th century as a more portable replacement for the standard timpani used in Afro-Cuban orchestras.
Traditionally, a pair of timbales is mounted on a stand and played while standing. The sticks are light conventional drumsticks or timbale sticks which are similar to conventional sticks but have no shoulder or head and are thinner (i.e. they are straight rods of wood.) The head diameters range from 12" to 16" with a pair normally differing in size by one inch. Manufacturers have recently produced small timbales (usually called "timbalitos" or "mini timbales") with diameters of 6", 8" or 10"; usually they are sold as pairs and are mostly suitable for drummers.
A small, fairly heavy salsa-type cymbal or a cowbell may be mounted slightly above and between the two timbales a little further from the player. Older players consider it bad taste to use both a cymbal and a cowbell, but younger players have abandoned this tradition, even incorporating timbales into larger percussion sets including drum kits.
Skilled players strike the heads, rims, and shells in rapid succession to produce lively latin rhythms. (Perhaps it is wise to include a note of caution here: Music shops may be understandably reluctant to let a browsing customer play the shells of timbales they have for sale!)
Due to the great timbalero Tito Puente (among others), it is now acceptable for a player – especially a band leader – to use more than two timbales, and a great timbale solo is quite a spectacle.
Rigo Tovar, Mexican cumbia superstar, is another notable timbalero. His mastery of the timbales can be heard on several of his songs, most notably his hit single, "Matamoros Querido."