Xylophone



[Fr.] - [Eng.]

A percussion instrument consisting of a row of chromatically tuned wooden bars, arranged in the manner of a piano keyboard. The bars are supported by a wooden frame over resonator tubes and they are sounded by being struck with mallets. Currently, the standard xylophone has a range of three-and-a-half octaves (f to c4). Commercial sizes can have as few as three octaves and as many as five octaves. The xylophone sounds one octaves higher than the written note.

Also [Eng.] xylophone; [Fr.] xylophone; [Ger.] Xylophon; [It.] xilofono; [Sp.] xilófono.
Written Range
Sounds an octave higher

More about instruments

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:

Saint-Saëns: Le carnaval des animaux, "Fossiles"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 15
Khatchaturian: Gayne Suite No. 1, "Sabre Dance"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 29
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