66 Festive & Famous Chorales for Band: Timpani Book

Erickson's thoughtful timpani writing gives percussion students genuine musicianship work rather than filler; the parts interact meaningfully with the harmonies and phrasing of the chorale. A single book spans 66 works, eliminating the need to hunt for supplementary literature while building intonation and sectional listening in a format that rehearsal time actually allows.

These arrangements honor the reverent quality of the chorale tradition while breathing enough openness that young players can hear their own role clearly. The music feels accessible and purposeful, never condescending; whether a chorale is familiar or new, the writing invites attention to tone, balance, and the geometry of harmony.

Concert band timpani players from intermediate through advanced high school levels and adult community ensembles benefit most from this book. Directors seeking a unified warm-up and musicianship resource that keeps percussion engaged will find 66 chorales sufficient to sustain a full season without repetition.

• Balance the timpani entrance timings with the chorale voices; mark cues that fall on harmonic shifts rather than only the downbeat to support phrase architecture
• Work timpani voicings in isolation with brass and woodwinds before full band rehearsals to establish how the part anchors rather than doubles the harmonic foundation
• Shape dynamic contours across the full 24 pages by selecting three to five contrasting chorales for warm-up sequences that build from soft to bright articulation

Open rehearsals with a single chorale to establish tuning and sectional focus before tackling contemporary or complex repertoire. Select contrasting works throughout the season for pre-concert warm-ups, or sequence them thematically (festival hymns, Christmas selections, slow chorale passages paired with technical studies) to reinforce intonation goals alongside your concert programming.

• Listening for harmonic function and phrase direction
• Adjusting timpani dynamics to support ensemble balance rather than lead
• Reading and executing rhythmic patterns aligned to vocal meter and cadence structure
• Developing touch and roll control across soft to moderate dynamic ranges
• Collaborating with pitched instruments to sustain intonation across sectional rehearsals