This volume represents a unique iconographical and documentary history of the timpani. Combining a wealth of pictorial material with extensive written sources, it offers a rich and comprehensive survey of the instrument's history from the middle ages to the present. And in so doing it fills a gap of long standing in the published literature of kettledrums by providing for the first time a combination of visual and descriptive evidence. The Timpani: A History in Pictures and Documents is a fascinating and most unusual book of interest not only to performing musicians, teachers and scholars alike, but one which provides the general reader or music-lover with a glimpse into the world of a hitherto neglected musical instrument. The second edition includes an addendum with important new textual and pictorial material; illustrations of the timpani and their use from the late 16th century to the present; historical documents dating from 1550 to 2006 describing the instrument and its role in the orchestra; update to the "Representative Milestones in the Music for Timpani"; additional bibliographic citations, both past and present.