I first fell in love with Timpani during a college orchestra rehearsal. I was a freshman at the time and was relegated to the auxiliary percussion section (freshman were not allowed to play Timps in the group). One afternoon, the usual Timpanist was not able to make the rehearsal so I was asked to fill in. I had never actually played Timpani with a real orchestra before. I had spent countless hours in rehearsal rooms playing to recordings, but never with a real group of musicians.
My first entrance was a soft, slow roll. I remember this moment vividly because it truly changed my musical life forever. I remember, for the very first time actually hearing how my note fit within the context of the chord the group was playing. I was contributing to the actual harmonic structure of the music!! This was such a moment of epiphany for me. I wasn't simply a rhythmic entity!! I was now a full melodic contributor to the music!! MIND BLOWN!!
The concept of percussion in an orchestral setting is one of ornamentation. However, the timpanist is in the drivers seat, propelling the orchestra both rhythmically, harmonically, and melodically. It is truly an amazing feeling!!
Although I do not play as much timpani in my professional life as I did in college (musical theater timpani parts aren't exactly Beethoven symphonies) I still get excited when I get the chance.