Rullo

As Printed on a Score

Rolls are usually notated with three strokes through the stem, or with tr and a wavy line, especially in timpani parts; the word rullo (rull.) sometimes clarifies. A tie onto a final note shows that the roll ends with a stroke on that note.

Abbreviations: rull.

How Composers Use It

A roll sustains a percussion sound and can swell or fade; the timpani roll under an orchestral crescendo is one of the most powerful effects in the orchestra. Mark the dynamic shape and whether the roll ends with a separate stroke. On snare drum the roll is normally a closed buzz; on timpani and cymbals it is rapid single strokes.

Related Terms