Xylophone

What is a xylophone?

The xylophone, also known as the xylophone, is a percussion percussion instrumentwhich belongs to the percussion idiophones and consists of one or more rows of bars tuned to different pitches. They are attached to a frame made of wood (often rosewood) or bamboo and are struck with mallets. Xylophones belong to the mallet percussion family, whose most important representatives in Europe are the marimba (marimba), the glockenspiel and the vibraphone. The origins of the xylophone lie in Asia and Africa. It was known in Germany at the beginning of the 19th century as the wooden laughter or (because the wooden bars were mounted on straw rollers) the straw fiddle. The word xylophone comes from the Greek and means “xylon” (wood) and “phone” (sound).

The ancestors of the xylophone are thought to be in South-East Asia, where the first evidence of it dates back to the 9th century. From there, the xylophone probably first spread to Africa. It was known in Germany at the beginning of the 19th century as the wooden laughter or (because the wooden bars were stored on straw rollers) as the straw fiddle. There are different variants of the xylophone, which originate from different countries. It was not until the 19th century that the xylophone was discovered for the orchestra.

What does a xylophone sound like?

A xylophone sounds clear, bright and often percussive when the wooden plates are struck with mallets. The sound is dry and short because wood does not reverberate as long as metal. However, the sound can also vary depending on what wood the xylophone is made of, how big the plates are, what the mallet looks like and whether there is a resonator.

History of the xylophone

The origins of the xylophone cannot be clearly determined. However, historians often agree that the instrument was first developed in South East Asia. There are several reliefs that show the xylophone in action. This evidence dates back to the 9th century, but there are also claims that the instrument was created even earlier. The xylophone made its way from Asia to Africa, where it was mainly used in the West.

The xylophone came to Europe with the returnees of the Crusades. One of the best-known depictions is by Hans Holbein the Younger from 1523: the woodcut “Dance of Death” shows a skeleton playing a xylophone. From then on, the instrument was mentioned in various writings by theorists. The xylophone was often referred to as a “straw fiddle” or “resounding laughter”. Until the 19th century, the instrument was mainly played by traveling musicians. In the 19th century, the xylophone was mainly played by itinerant musicians: Musicians who distinguished themselves through particular virtuosity traveled the country with a circus and played the xylophone.

What is the structure of a xylophone?

Xylophones consist of an arrangement of bars made of hardwood or bamboo. In Europe, xylophones are often made from Honduras rosewood (Dalbergia stevensonii), the different lengths of which (between 13.5 and 38 cm) determine the pitch. These bars are mounted on straw or rubber rollers at the vibration nodes of their fundamental resonance frequency and placed in a wooden or metal frame with resonance tubes under each bar.

The pitch of the bars can be adjusted by grinding. It depends on factors such as the length, thickness and strength of the bar, but not on its width. Longer and thinner bars produce lower tones, while shorter and thicker bars produce higher tones. Grinding the ends of a bar produces a higher tone. If the thickness of the bar is changed in the middle, it becomes more elastic, vibrates more strongly and produces deeper tones.

Most xylophones are played with two mallets, which are often made of wood. These mallets have approx. 30 cm long handles, often made of rattan, hornbeam or hickory, and oval or spherical heads with a diameter of approx. 2.5 cm. When playing the xylophone, especially the four-row xylophone, the musicians hit the front edge or the middle of the bars with spoon-shaped wooden mallets.

Which xylophones are available?

There are different types of xylophones depending on their design, e.g. spar xylophones, frame xylophones, box xylophones, trough xylophones and bracket xylophones. On spar xylophones, the bars lie crosswise on two beams (spars), while on trough xylophones the bars lie on a box (trough), which also serves as a resonator. African xylophones are often equipped with gourd resonators to amplify the sound.

The pitch of a xylophone varies depending on the type of construction, but can usually cover around three octaves. In addition to xylophones, there are related instruments such as metallophones with metal bars and lithophones with bar-shaped stones.

How are xylophones made to sound?

The bars of orchestral xylophones are usually made of hardwood such as rosewood or palisander. They can be up to 38 cm long. The length, thickness and density of the material determine the pitch of the bars. The longer, thinner and denser the bar, the lower the pitch. The bars can be tuned by adding or removing material. There are metal resonance tubes under each bar that amplify the sound.

The xylophone is played with mallets. These are made of rubber, wood or plastic. The softer mallets are wrapped in string. Depending on which mallet is used, the notes of the xylophone sound softer or harder. The hard mallets are preferred because of their brighter and clearer sound. The sound of the xylophone is short and percussive. To produce longer tones, two mallets can be struck on a wooden stick in a whirling motion.

How do you play the xylophone?

The playing technique of the xylophone requires both physical coordination and musical understanding. To get the best out of this versatile instrument, various aspects and techniques are important. The choice of mallets plays a crucial role as they influence the sound – from bright and penetrating to warm and muted. A loose grip is important in order to control the mallet properly and to use the striking technique from the wrist. Dynamics are controlled by the intensity of the attack, while rolls allow a rapid succession of strokes to create a sustained sound. Intervals and chords require precise hand-eye coordination, while articulation techniques such as legato and staccato shape the musical expression.

Regularly practicing notes, scales and arpeggios helps to improve dexterity and deepen musical understanding. Correct posture is also important to avoid tension and enable efficient playing technique. Advanced players can even change mallets while playing to create different timbres. All in all, learning to play the xylophone takes time, practice and patience, and a qualified teacher can help to learn the techniques properly and realize the instrument’s full potential.

List of famous xylophone players

Red Norvo (1908-1999): One of the first jazz vibraphonists and xylophonists. He was a pioneer in the use of the xylophone in jazz and worked with many of the great names in jazz history, including Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker and Lionel Hampton.

George Hamilton Green (1893-1970): A virtuoso xylophonist who was active in the 1920s and 1930s. He was known for his impressive technique and wrote many solo works for the instrument.

Bobby Hutcherson (1941-2016): Although primarily known as a vibraphonist, Hutcherson also played xylophone and was an influential musician in post-bop and modern jazz.

Ian Finkel (1947-2020): Described as “the world’s greatest xylophonist”, Finkel played in a variety of genres from classical to jazz.

Keiko Abe (born 1937): A Japanese marimba and xylophone player. She has significantly expanded the repertoire for marimba, a close relative of the xylophone, and was a pioneer in the development of the modern concert marimba.

Teddy Brown (1900-1946): A xylophonist who was well known in the US and UK in the 1920s and 1930s.

Manufacturers and brands of xylophones

• Adams
• Kolberg
• Majestic
• Marimba One
• Mike Balter
• Sonor
• Studio 49
• Yamaha

How much does a xylophone cost?

The price of a xylophone depends on various factors such as size, material, quality, brand and type. Toy xylophones for children are available from as little as 10 to 50 euros, depending on the quality and brand. Beginner and student models, which are ideal for beginners and school music lessons, generally cost between 100 and 500 euros. Professional diatonic xylophones are made from higher quality materials and offer a fuller sound.

Prices are usually between 500 and 2,500 euros. Chromatic xylophones, which resemble a piano and have both diatonic and chromatic keys, are often more expensive and cost between €1,000 and €5,000 or more, depending on the brand and quality. Special and cultural xylophones have very different prices. Accessories such as mallets, bags or covers, stands and sheet music can incur additional costs.

It is important to note that prices can vary depending on region, dealer and other factors. When buying a xylophone, it’s worth checking out different options, reading reviews and, if possible, trying out the instrument before you buy. A high-quality xylophone often has a better sound and a longer lifespan, but for beginners a simpler model may be perfectly adequate.