<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> Kus </Li> <Li> Naqareh </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> Kus </Li> <Li> Naqareh </Li> </Ul> <P> Timpani (/ ˈtɪmpəni /; Italian pronunciation: (ˈtimpani)) or kettledrums (also informally called timps) are musical instruments in the percussion family . A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper . Most modern timpani drums, such as pedal timpani are able to, and are designed to be, tuned easily to specific pitches, often during sections of music; the example being tuned by a movable foot - pedal . They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet . Timpani evolved from military drums to become a staple of the classical orchestra by the last third of the 18th century . Today, they are used in many types of ensembles, including concert bands, marching bands, orchestras, and even in some rock . </P> <P> Timpani is an Italian plural, the singular of which is timpano . However, in English a single instrument is rarely called a timpano: several are more typically referred to collectively as kettledrums, timpani, temple drums, timp - toms, or timps . They are also often incorrectly termed timpanis . A musician who plays the timpani is a timpanist . </P>

What is a set of kettledrums in an orchestra called