Xylophone
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 [Fr.] Xylophone; [Ger.]
Xylophon; [It.] Xilofono; [Sp.] Xilófono.
| Written Range |
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| Sounds an octave higher |
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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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