Druckman's "Valentine" and timpani mallets

[Sevitzky]

Any thoughts on the types of timpani mallets to use for Jacob Druckman's "Valentine"?

I've been using Vic Firth T1 Generals. Apparently, they are total s**t, and I'm beginning to think so myself. I had some colleagues mention "cartwheel" style heads, and now I've found bamboo sticks online. I think I might order some bamboo cartwheels - but I wanted to see what other people are using before I blow some more cash on this expensive hobby of mine.


-Sev

[Ashley Long]

Dear Sevitzky,

When Ive done this piece in the past and when Ive done recitals which involve other pieces using mallets, Ive tended to use a medium grade to hard felt head or marimba sticks. Its all a matter of experimentation, each bass and its set-up will respond differently to various types of beater, I use medium tension spirocores most of time and find that these combined with a the aforementioned beaters works well giving a well defined, resonant tone. Find a drummer (or orchestral percussionist) friend and ask nicely if you could borrow some sticks to try before you find the right one for you.
Hope this helps, PM me if you have any more questions about this or the score, its a fantastic piece, are you doing the theatrical version with make-up and costume?

best wishes

Ash

[Sevitzky]

Yo dog.

I don't know any drummers. tend to stay away from them.

I do a little staging at the beginning. No make up or costumes, though.

I just received a pair of Vic Firth felt-core, cartwheel "legatos" with cherry wood shafts (not bamboo as advertised). They've got a smaller head, so you've got to be careful, but I think it's better for the strikes to the bridge and table.

Sev

[mcnaire2004]

Wow you must be good. I read the Lemur description of this piece and they say it is one of the hardest pieces ever written for bass.

[Sevitzky]

Yeah, I guess you could say that I'm pretty awesome.




The piece is a challenge. But you see, it's rewarding, too. It's a real piece of music written by a world-class musician. So you get back whatcha put into it.


The hardest piece ever written for bassists (who want an orchestra job) is *actually* the Koussevitzky Concerto Opus 3. Because, its construction is so devoid of competence, but it's also ubiquitous, so it's quite hard to avoid studying it a great deal.

That's a piece of ironic musical theater if e'er there was one.

Anyway, Valentine. Good piece. Ashley, I think I like a harder mallet, too. It gets more core to the sound. Although the cartwheel I'm using is particularly nice for the repeated notes (single mallet rolls, you could call them I guess); gets more sustain, less contact noise. But there's no questions that softer is better for the bass...

Hmm.. maybe a dual-headed mallet....black shaft....Darth Sevitzky they will call me.

[Anonymous75966]

Originally Posted by Sevitzky

The hardest piece ever written for bassists (who want an orchestra job) is *actually* the Koussevitzky Concerto Opus 3. Because, its construction is so devoid of competence, but it's also ubiquitous, so it's quite hard to avoid studying it a great deal.

That's a piece of ironic musical theater if e'er there was one.

LOL ... right on.

[Sevitzky]

FYI,

I just tried some mallets with bamboo shafts, wood cores, and medium to soft felting. I like them. The core of the wood ball makes the wood ring, but they have some extra brightness from the bamboo (wood shafts are a little more thuddy).