This concerto is destined to become one of the most important and often-performed works in the solo timpani literature. Although it was composed and premiered by the National Symphony Orchestra in the 1960s, it has been unpublished and unavailable until it was “rescued” by Leigh Howard Stevens (at the composer’s request). This package includes the solo timpani part, a piano reduction for rehearsal or performance and the 6 percussion ensemble accompaniment parts for Movement II.

Timpani solo editing and comparison of manuscripts by John Tafoya (Professor of Music-Percussion, and Chairman of Percussion Department at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and former Principal Timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra) and final revisions by Igor Sarmientos.

Also, check out this interview with Fred Begun about the Sarmientos Timpani Concerto, reprinted with permission from the Percussive Arts Society, Inc.

Concerto for Five Timpani and Orchestra Op. 31, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Howard Mitchell and featuring Fred Begun on Timpani. Recorded live on May 7th, 1965 at the Pan American Music Hall in Washington D.C.

First Movement

Second Movement

Third Movement