Timpanist Fail

This is the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (FRSO) performing (premiere) Tauno Marttinen's Symphony No. 4. This video reflects the high level in Finnish percussionism.

[@tommybobby1802]

This is no fail, this is success! The Tympanist kept going after his sheet fell, he did not stopped, this shows he had rehearsed well, well done Tympanist!!

[@JawJX]

If he rehearsed well he would know the song was ending.

[@57Strudel]

+Tommy bobby No kidding. When in doubt, throw your music on the floor and keep going. (If he didn't know the piece at concert time shame on him... obviously he did).

[@conradthe2]

+Tommy bobby Didn't even blink

[@th3j0t46]

That was what I was about to say xD

[@victordelacueva8385]

Tommy bobby correct

[@homersimpson8561]

This isn't a fail. This man is a pro. He obviously has the piece learned so well that he's ready for situations like this.

[@MikeHoltackers]

yup. we all know: shit happens.

[@josephstalin6549]

That's what every band player does when they loose their position

[@SebbaFresh]

***** he didnt try to turn the page, he was thinking: Fuck this shit, i dont need this paper fuck. Then he slapped it away

[@SebbaFresh]

***** he was clearly not giving a fuck about the note, slapping that shit away

[@julianabrown8283]

Teenage metal drummers in garages learn longer more complicated pieces and memorize them just fine. If this guy is a pro and they are not, I submit we change the definition of pro.

[@retrogamerdave362]

Far from a fail, this musician showed incredible poise under extreme pressure.

[@philipminnis5402]

As a music teacher and percussionist, all I see is a great recovery. This "Fail" is something no one HEARD and something that no one in the audience saw.

[@Madkatruss12]

As a timpanist I think this guy is awesome for having memorized his part. Well done, fellow timpanist. Well done.

[@martimtavares3692]

Why does it say FAIL on the title??? This is a WIN

[@herringostarr]

Oh man....I'm laughing so hard. He did a fine job! I'm just laughing, imagining the thought going through his head at the time: "Oh, crap! Well, here goes nothing..." He sent that music flying off that stand!

[@Pauken11]

I take issue with the title: "Timpanist Fail". This is NOT a fail. This is a SAVE. You do what you have to do in the moment, and the timpanist literally didn't miss a beat.

[@idkhow]

I was in a band concert and the flutes had to play a high note, well to get a high note you have to give it a LOT of air, so I did that and my music blew off my stand.

[@CathyRichards1]

We've all been there

[@57Strudel]

+Cathy Richards Yep. I'm a choir person and sooooo many times it's like "what the HELL page am I supposed to be on? Screw it I know the thing anyway...."

[@gummygummybear9876]

+57Strudel why do you need a stand in choir when you can just hold the music ?

[@WayneKotke]

Every musician who plays from sheet music in concert will be on the timpanist's side here. Page turns can be a real nightmare, unless they're during lengthy rests. To this musician's credit, he did not lose his cool and he kept on playing despite the mishap. Nice work!

[@tooshredpiano]

Top-notch musicianship - this is what 'the show must go on' means! Truly an epic save.

[@drummerlewrocks]

That is something I could totally see myself doing, haha! He did great though, he didn't hesitate to keep going!

[@EdwinDPZ]

He intentionally threw the pages away, he's making a statement about how much of a badass he is!

[@kaleva54]

Hello Iulian, this is my fathers Tauno Marttinen symphony 4 it got first price in London and premiere was in Finlandia house 2008 half a year before he past away and he was hearing the symphony premier after 44 years he had done it. Beautiful moment and thank you mr Sakari Oramo conducter who found it. You can ask copy of it YLE radio or sheets Edition Tilli.

[@cellogirl11rw55]

This just goes to show the importance of memorizing your music.

[@OverClover]

Eh, he probably had it pretty much memorized anyway

[@soullessSiIence]

0:30 "Oh, God, why have you abandoned me?"

[@user-yq9yz8du5r]

This is one reason we need to practice everyday to have the music playing in our brain and hearts,so when such situations occurs we are safe during performance. Great Timpanist!

[@Musicmanmurrell]

He handled that like a pro, and he knew his part well enough to just watch the conductor. Mark of a musician right there, not panicking under adversity.

[@BenPowellDrummer]

EPIC DRUM FAIL 🤣- kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoDMloqZj8preJo

[@WarpZone10]

I didn't know Jean Sibelius played timpani.

[@Tokkemon]

This isn't a fail. It's a nice recovery from something that happens all the time in the orchestra. No one ever notices, however.

[@Hlessirah]

This guy's AWESOME! He did have an epic fail, for sure, but he kept his composure under pressure and convincingly finished the part. And c'mon, everybody's had that happen to them (I know I have...). Everybody has a little fluke, no matter how far they go, and it's nice to have this (albeit hilarious) reminder. You rock, timpanist dude!

[@syntacticalcrab]

If I could "Vote Up" a dozen times I'd've done it. This is the best narration ever.

[@rockyourworld5374]

Awesome Tympanist! Lost his sheet music, and stayed on his game. Way to go brother! 👌🤘

[@GrandRobo]

Perfect timpanists don't exis-

[@RodrigoCFD]

This video is full of awesomeness.

[@michaljohnes7913]

This is indeed a fail. But not of the musician - of THE CAMERAMAN. I have watched hundreds of videos of orchestra performances and in 96.234% of them when the percussion brings in a new essential element in the music, or carries a solo theme, the camera is filming another section holding their instrument, or the conductor's face. For the whole frigin passage, no percussion is showed when it matters. But NOW, when the timpanist has trouble turning his page because his hands are so busy playing, the Camera stays on him and stays and stays .... wtf! it's like they're TRYING to embarass musicians. Cameraman BIG FAIL! Not cool. These guys studied and perfected their craft for decades, and THAT is what you show??? Shame to whoever posted this!

[@Aid4nS33rs]

If this was filmed in a live multi-camera set up, the director would be the one to blame. Otherwise it's the editor who should be blamed.

[@gwaur]

Aid4n Only for it being shown on tv, not for it actually happening.

[@JamGraMusic]

I agree, very poor film work.

[@LuizBHMG]

+Michal Johnes No!!! There are normally several cameras; this one is certainly always there, pointing to the percussion, other one is always facing the conductor and so on... The selection of them are made by the video edition. The fail here was obviously made by the score editor. A page turn should never be at this point when the musician cannot use his hands!

[@EliteCitrus]

+Michal Johnes props to the timpanist regardless

[@lepredator189]

Thank goodness I learned jazz piano first before sinking deep into classical (actually I learnt both genres more or less synchronously). Of course, in this case memory is required to carry on the playing (not necessarily improvisation), but I've got that pretty much covered too in performing classical music. What jazz taught me though, was sheer fearlessness on stage in the moment, sheet music independence, and the idea that you can just carry on with the music, improvising (intelligently) if need be.

[@syntacticalcrab]

I like how he had the handy page-turn corner fold, and was still foiled.

[@EliteCitrus]

actually hilarious. this man is the mvp lol

[@mediocremusicalmovie]

Why is everyone saying he deliberately threw the music away? It's clear that it's an accident; he tries to discreetly flip the page with the mallet, but accidentally hits it too close to the spine and it slips off the stand. No disrespect to the timpanist, but I'm just saying. You can even see the moment where he's like, "Crap, I'll grab i--never mind, the quiet moment's almost here."

[@Henry14arsenal2007]

Always wondered how orchestra musicians manage to turn the page if the music doesnt stop between pages, do they miss some notes in between?

[@goldromans]

Fo musicians that play instruments that are held, the music will generally allow time for the player to put down the instrument, turn the page and pick up the the instrument again.

[@Henry14arsenal2007]

goldromans But what if the page transition occurs at an intense moment?

[@Teemu_V]

Henry14arsenal2007 If a pause is not possible at the turn of the page, the musician learns that part by heart until he has time to turn the page. Page turning is easier with string players because they play in pairs.

[@Doctor387]

Most parts tend to be written and printed such that there is some kind of rest or pause to turn the page. If there isn't a rest then most people will either learn enough of the part by heart to get up to a rest on the next page or simply make a copy of the page. What rehearsals are for! :P

[@gwaur]

Henry14arsenal2007 String players have an advantage; there are two players playing from the same sheet, and their unit is called a desk, so one of the players keeps playing while the other turns the page. For a short while the number of players does drop by half, but it's just a couple of seconds.

[@sallysunshine]

This is the funniest thing I have ever seen, just the thought of it brings me to tears.

[@jirokenshin]

Props to the timpanist, acting like a true professional and playing through it anyway.

[@edbonner5970]

I wouldn't call it a fail. A great rescue. The adrenaline must've been pumping when the music fell!

[@TheFirearmGuys]

Is it possible to get a score of this piece? It sounds very very interesting. :)

[@voltablitz]

I was in that mission too

[@tableham]

This isn't a fail. This is a perfect demonstration of musicianship and working well under pressure. Of keeping bearing.

[@greatleaper]

The slow hand of disapproval. Loved it.

[@WildernessGuardians]

This is definitely a win. Good recovery dude. Well done.

[@Karoish]

Finland, more like Winland. The brief moment of despair on his face before pulling off his part flawlessly was pure magic.

[@computernerdinside]

Don’t you just love it when inanimate objects seem to want to argue with you?

[@AviisaVii]

Funny but awesome how he kept going

[@mookiekins75]

Darn fine recovery!

[@sstuddert]

so funny to see things go wrong but equaly impressive to see a recovery like that.

[@bebres]

I think every percussionist has gone through that experience.

[@fchu]

who ever thought practicing your part would come in handy

[@bibifrijam]

Good job ! And the show must go on ;-)

[@DrumLuv23]

I mean, I don't see this as an epic fail moment. The man is playing, misses a page turn, and knows the music so well that he still finishes as though the music is right in front of him.

[@Ritterjaegerjaeger]

I mean...one of the funniest things is the cool reaction of the conductor who surely noticed the timpanist. He just closes his eyes and continues. All professionals here :)...I mean, this is a thing that can happen to everyone and it's very brave to try further. So thanks for sharing, it was funny :)

[@neurophonicmusic]

There's no one else with the timpani score, except the conductor.

[@EliseoBetancourt]

NOT a fail to face a Problem and keep living on.

[@samdavies5696]

A fail would be I lost my page so I wont play at all;the music page is only a reminder;the tympanist continued to play, not letting the orchestra down

[@soschadao]

It happens to the best of us. i had that happen during a rehearsal for my senior Jury. My music teacher told me to photocopy the page or she would leave during the Jury...very loudly and publicly. Took it to heart and came in 3rd in the jury.

[@kaleva54]

This was played in Finlandia-house in Helsinki, Finland when Tauno was 95 years old.

[@BenOBrienSmith]

Ouch! Such a painful situation. I've had those happen but only in rehearsal. He manages to not look too distraught as the inevitable happens.

[@lunchboxes22]

He played fine. You can see that he and the guy in the back play together, and they play rolls one after the other. He doesn't miss his roll

[@Deathsquad49]

wonderful recovery

[@alex_ma1ex]

that has happened to me too and it's quite stressful because it makes you feel quite unsure but all you can do is continue...

[@dgbjackgibson]

And thus, improvisation was born.

[@Ckrivko]

Well done! Even in this moment he was able to continue!

[@cinnamonbeardstud]

I'm floored at why orchestras don't have screens with synchronized scrolling sheet music nowadays?

[@Rammstein52012]

Good thing he remembered his piece

[@Oneofthosefatguys]

They practice this so much they don't really need the sheet music. It's a reference for them at this point, like when you give a speech and your outline is used to help guide you through your speech.

[@monteverdi1567]

Pure win. He kept playing and held it together.

[@TheFrenziedPianist]

And THAT my friends, is when memorization comes in handy.

[@matthewpaluch777]

Yes, Unfortunately.............been there.

[@goriller9166]

A moment of silence for this man

[@basedbattledroid3507]

This was way funnier than I thought it was going to be.

[@Fwuzeem]

That's actually why you turn your pages better. No one can expect an orchestral player to memorise their parts, they have a life too

[@BipolarBowler]

I LIKED THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AFTER THE BOOK FELL TO THE SIDE

[@km426]

I done that once when playing keyboard, i went to turn the page and pulled the full folder of the stand and played a lovely clash of notes! Haha

[@jenniferbenson7782]

Thankfully, his music didn't fall to the floor!

[@klo1024]

Yeah. this is a win. He's prepared for things like this to happen and knows his part.

[@Cooprocks123e]

I love playing timpani, it is so awesome

[@eufo]

This is an epic WIN!

[@lisc9237]

This is why I memorize my music

[@ApsisApocynthion]

@BGDD27 So your memory is so fine as to memorize 2-3 hours worth of music? Because that's usually how long symphony programs are.

[@gnatural]

THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO HIS MUSICIANSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM.

[@blackpoolram]

Certainly NO FAIL. The percussionist had rehearsed countless times and knew exactly what he was doing.

[@artzermarcel]

J'adore ! The Timpani Break !!!

[@anonymusum]

Those are the moments the sweat goes right thru your clothes in one second

[@MichelleZB]

These things happen, and he dealt with it calmly. WIN.

[@six_buck_dlc]

Shows he actually memorized his part rather than just reading it.

[@BrittyBlackGirl]

Brilliant!!

[@IsaacDeanMusic]

Press 0 and 1 over and over to get a raving conductor.

[@ZuluRomeo]

And despite it all he keeps playing AND knows when to come in and stop. What a pro.

[@jukeboxfandango]

I always practiced to the point where I could play the song without the music, I would often play songs without ever glancing at the pages during rehearsals, and the time my music fell off the stand I panicked and screwed up

seemed like he still remembered the notes so that ain't a fail ! ;)

[@finleybyard5963]

Perfect example of rehearsing well

[@suntim]

good recovery for him, at least he stood his ground and pretended nothing happened

[@getar12345]

I keep clicking 0:00 and I can't stop laughing at the conductor's hair xD

[@TheFirearmGuys]

thank you very much

[@mikeleopard4705]

In band they usually rehearse their songs dozens of times. I'm sure he still hit every note.

[@LyssLiLi]

I see that they hired Napoleon Dynamite to conduct an Orchestra. Bravo!

[@Brian.j]

SO GOOD

[@LessonsFromGeorgia]

Not so bad! I was playing a wedding and the violists' stand blew over and we had to scramble to pick up music for her as they were telling us the bride was getting ready to walk out!

[@catycat28meow]

As a seedling timpanist, I think this is cool.

[@parkalex100]

Whether he memorized it or improvised, either way it's a win to me.