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Whenever the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia performs at the Kimmel Center, Martha Hitchins is in her usual place – the corner of the stage, far behind the other musicians. Still, she stands out.
Tall and intent, drumsticks raised and ready, the orchestra’s principal timpanist stands next to her drums. When it’s Hitchins’ turn to perform, she leans over and plays with precision.
Sometimes her hands strike at top speed, other times they’re slow and measured. She often moves swiftly from one drum to another, always focused on the instrument before her.
"People think drums just mean rhythm, but they mean so much more," said Hitchins, whose specialty is the timpani – large, copper drums each tuned to different notes.
"The timpani can create such a range of sounds and color," she said. "It’s a wonderful instrument because of how varied it is."
When Hitchins plays the instrument, she evokes a dynamic presence on stage. Standing elegant and regal in a long, black dress, she waits for the precise moment to hit the drum. When she does, it’s with dramatic flourish.
This, she will do often April 30 and May 1, when the Chamber Orchestra presents the first of three all-Mozart programs to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. During each concert, Hitchins will play on three timpani drums of different sizes and use six separate pairs of drumsticks, depending on the sound needed.
In her South Philadelphia residence on Kater Street, Hitchins has 60 pairs of drumsticks with tips covered in felt, to give them a better sound. Hitchins cuts the felt squares, then sews each one and fits them onto the drumstick.
In the front room of her home, two timpani are prominently placed and there is a marimba in the corner. Other percussion instruments around Hitchins’ home include triangles, tambourine, castanets and a snare drum she’s had since childhood.
But the timpani are Hitchins’ main instrument and she practices every day for two or three hours. When she first moved in, she told her next-door neighbors about her drums.
"I asked the neighbors on both sides, ‘Is this a problem?’" she recalled.
It wasn’t. Actually, they enjoy it – one neighbor loves to hear the drum rolls when she’s doing a household chore.
"She says it makes her feel she’s really accomplished something," Hitchins said with a laugh.
Along with the drum beats, those close by can sometimes hear loud cheers. A football enthusiast who grew up in Grand Junction, Colo., Hitchins is a diehard Denver Broncos fan. But she’s quick to say she also roots for the Eagles.
Several neighbors are sports fans, too. In fact, one was about to watch a golf tournament on TV when he thought he heard thunder. He worried the tournament would be canceled, but it was actually Hitchins on the drums.
"Now we call it ‘timpani thunder,’" she joked.
IN CONTRAST TO her elegant attire at concerts, the friendly and unpretentious Hitchins dresses in jeans and sweatshirts while relaxing at home. Her cat, Nora, is quite accustomed to the sound of drums during Hitchins’ frequent practices. She is careful not to overdo it, though, as too much playing can be hard on the hands and wrists. Two years ago, Hitchins had a severe case of tendonitis and missed two weeks of concerts.
As a member of both the Chamber Orchestra and the Opera Company of Philadelphia Orchestra, every concert is a strenuous experience. Chamber Orchestra concerts last two hours and an opera can last up to four. Almost all of the musicians are seated while playing, but Hitchins remains standing the entire time.
"I get a better sound that way," she said.
Because she’s constantly bending over the drums, flicking her wrists and sliding from one drum to another, keeping fit is essential. Hitchins stays in shape with a cross-country ski machine. For someone who grew up in Colorado, being on skis – even if it’s a machine – comes naturally.
Since she doesn’t own a car, the musician happily walks everywhere, including to Kimmel Center and Academy of Music concerts. She carries her "stick bag," as she calls it, packed with drumsticks – usually six to eight pairs for just one show.
"The bag can get pretty heavy," she said.
Regardless of the inconveniences, Hitchins loves playing the timpani – although it wasn’t the instrument she started with. She began playing the piano at age 8, encouraged by her late mother Jeannette, who was a pianist and organist. In junior high she was introduced to the timpani "and I liked it right away," she said.
In high school, Hitchins played so well as timpanist for the school orchestra, she began taking private lessons with Robert Lentz, a timpanist with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. This meant traveling from Grand Junction to Salt Lake City for lessons, but it was well worth it.
When Hitchins was accepted to the top-rated Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in l974, she was the only female percussion student, and remained so until her graduation four years later.
After Curtis, Hitchins served as principal timpanist with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra for nine years. Meanwhile, in l980, she also joined the Opera Company orchestra. Three years later, she was invited to play a concert with the Chamber Orchestra, then the Concerto Soloists. "The level of playing was so high that I was impressed right away," she said.
Hitchins continued to freelance for the Chamber Orchestra until l988, when she was offered a full-time position. Besides serving as principal timpanist, she’s also the ensembles coordinator, meaning she hires musicians for the group’s outside engagements.
Lately, she’s focused on preparing for the Mozart concerts, which are the finale of the Chamber Orchestra’s season. Music Director Ignat Solzhenitsyn will conduct and also play piano concertos for all three programs.
"Ignat has a special feel for Mozart – he makes it so beautiful," Hitchins said.
It’s been 23 years since she played her first concert with the Chamber Orchestra, and she still looks forward to each show.
"Playing this fabulous instrument is such a privilege," she said, "and it’s especially a privilege to play with the Chamber Orchestra. I feel totally caught up in the music. It’s an enthralling experience every time."
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia presents "Ultimate Mozart," a series of three all-Mozart concerts, starting April 30 and May 1. The other concerts are May 14 and 15 and June 4 and 5. For tickets, call 215-893-1999 or visit www.chamberorchestra.org.
