I got a call from Principal Timpani Richard
Holmes this morning. "You wanted to know something about the
season?"
"Your hot picks."
"Well, I don't know if my picks are so hot, but there are
two concerts that stand out. Tchaikovsky 5. It's long been a favorite of mine
among all the Tchaikovsky symphonies."
And since this was Rick Holmes on the phone, I knew a story
was about to be told. "And Shostakovich 5. The last time we played it, I went
right through the timpani head. The whole orchestra heard the head tear. It
might quite a loud crack."
"What did you do then?"
"Oh," he said nonchalantly, "I just tuned the drum next to
it and managed to finish the piece. Who knows? Maybe this season I'll bust
another head."
