tympanist
- n a person who plays the kettledrums
- The smoothest pate in the orchestra belongs to Alfred Friese, oldtime tympanist of the New York Philharmonic, whose pupil, young black-mopped Saul Goodman, now stands behind .
- His favorite Hollywood story: "Only a tympanist was present for all four rehearsals before an important concert.
- The tympanist does sleight of hand.