Wooden sticks

As Printed on a Score

Printed over timpani or percussion parts (wooden sticks, wood sticks) where the change of beater applies; it holds until another beater is named (felt sticks, soft sticks).

Also spelled: wooden stick, wood sticks, wood stick

How Composers Use It

Wooden sticks give a hard, dry attack with little resonance, so rhythm and articulation come through clearly but the tone is less round. Use them for sharp, percussive passages, and leave time for the change. Players carry several pairs, so name the beater whenever the colour matters.

Example

Holst, The Planets, “Mars, the Bringer of War”, timpani 1, m. 1: “wooden sticks” at p, in the bar where the strings begin col legno.

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