what family is the xylophone in

What family does xylophone belong to?

Famous solo works

• "Concertino for Xylophone" by Mayuzumi
• "Scherzo For Xylophone and Piano" by Ptaczinska
• "Robin Harry" by Inns
• "Tambourin Chinoise" by Kreisler

What instrument family does a xylophone belong to?

Famous solo works

• "Concertino for Xylophone" by Mayuzumi
• "Scherzo For Xylophone and Piano" by Ptadsxyndks
• "Robin Harry" by Inns
• "Tambourin Chinoise" by Kreisler

Which musical family does the xylophone come from?

The xylophone (from the Greek words ξύλον — xylon, "wood" + φωνή — phōnē, "sound, voice", literally meaning "sound of wood") is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets.

What is the best xylophone?

• Traditional – which is said to be one step above the competition
• Enhanced – which has more depth of fundamental and resonance than the Traditional keyboard
• Premium – which is the best sounding keyboard ever made, according to the company

Is a xylophone in the percussion family?

The most common percussion instruments in the orchestra include the timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs, chimes, celesta, and piano. The piano is a percussion instrument.

What does a xylophone belong to?

The Xylophone is a Percussion instrument which belong to the idiophones and to the Definite pitch subfamily.

Is xylophone a Membranophone?

The more traditional members, however, can be roughly grouped as idiophones (xylophone, marimba, chimes, cymbals, gongs, etc.), membranophones (drums), aerophones (whistles, sirens), and chordophones (piano, harpsichord).

What instruments belong in the string family?

The strings are the largest family of instruments in the orchestra and they come in four sizes: the violin, which is the smallest, viola, cello, and the biggest, the double bass, sometimes called the contrabass.

What are idiophones?

Idiophones are instruments that create sound through vibrating themselves. They differ from chordophones and membranophones because the vibrating is not the result of strings or membranes. Under the Hornbostel-Sachs classifcation system, idiophones are further divided into struck idiophones and plucked idiophones.

What family of instruments is the piano?

Here, pianos fall squarely into the family of chordophones, instruments that produce sound by way of vibrating strings.

Is suling an aerophone?

The suling is an end-blown edge aerophone of the Javanese people of Indonesia. It is the only aerophone found in the Javanese gamelan (see Gamelan besi), but is also played solo throughout Java for personal entertainment.

Which is an example of an aerophone?

Examples include the trumpet, cornet, horn, trombone and the tuba.

Which of the following is an aerophone?

A few examples of the most well-known aerophone instruments include the trumpets, clarinet, piccolo, flute, saxophone, accordion, tuba, harmonica, horn, accordion, and whistle. These instruments sound well when they are played as a band.

What instruments belong to the woodwind family?

The woodwind family of instruments includes, from the highest sounding instruments to the lowest, the piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon and contrabassoon.

Is xylophone a percussion?

The most common percussion instruments in the orchestra include the timpani, xylophone, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, maracas, gongs, chimes, celesta, and piano.

What is in the brass family?

The brass family members that are most commonly used in the orchestra include the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and the tuba.

Balafon

The Balophon is a kind of wooden xylophone or percussion idiophone which plays melodic tunes, and usually has between 16 to 27 keys. It has been played in Africa since the 1300s; it originated in Mali. according to the Manding history narrated by the griots.

Calung

A Calung can either refer to a bamboo xylophone instrument or an ensemble. The Calung consists of multiple bamboo tubes which are struck at the base to produce a woody sound. In Balinese culture, the Calung is actually a metallophonic instrument that has a one-octave range, and is generally utilized to play mid-range melodies.

Gamelan

Gamelan is traditional ensemble music of Java and Bali in Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. The most common instruments are metallophones played by mallets as well as a set of hand played drums called kendhang which register the beat.

Gandingan a Kayo

The gandingan a kayo is a Philippine xylophone and considered the wooden version of the real gandingan. This instrument is a relatively new instrument coming of age due to the increasing popularity of the “wooden kulintang ensemble”. Unlike the original gandingan, the gandingan a kayo cannot be used for long-distance communication.

Kulintang a Kayo

The kulintang a kayo is a Philippine xylophone of the Maguindanaon people with eight tuned slabs arranged horizontally atop a wooden antangan. Made of soft wood such as bayug, the kulintang a kayo is a common found among Maguindanaon households with a musical background.

Malimbe

The malimbe is a type of xylophone from the Congo which is described as having both male and female counterparts; the former has 15 wooden bars, the latter has nine. "Malimbe" also refers to a lamellaphone or mbira type instrument amongst the Nyamwezi of Tanzania.

Metallophone

A metallophone is any musical instrument consisting of tuned metal bars which are struck to make sound, usually with a mallet. Metallophones have been used in music in Asia for thousands of years. There are several different types used in Balinese and Javanese gamelan ensembles, including the gendér, gangsa and saron.

1. The Origin of the Xylophone is a Mystery

No one can really tell for sure where the xylophone has originally come from.

2. The Xylophone Goes by Many Names

As a notable member of the percussion family of instruments, the xylophone has been around for a long time thanks to its simple construction concepts.

3. The Xylophone is No Longer Exclusive to Wood

As with many percussion instruments, the xylophone was first made out of wood.

4. The Xylophone has Uses Beyond Making Music

Besides being part of orchestral works and creating beautiful music, the xylophone has been reportedly used for a variety of different purposes.

5. The Xylophone and the Marimba are Cousins not Twins

It’s quite common to confuse the xylophone with the marimba, but you should know better than that after this article.

6. The First Proof of the Xylophone Dates Back to the 9th Century

Although it’s believed to be a lot older, the first definite evidence of the existence of the xylophone was found in Southeast Asia back in the 9th century.

7. The Xylophone Took off in the 14th Century

The popularity of the xylophone was first sparked in the 14th century, that’s when things kicked off for the percussion instrument.

What is a xylophone?

So, xylophone means wood sound. The xylophone is a musical instrument made of hardwood bars in graduated lengths which are set horizontally on a metal frame. On the left side of the instrument are the larger, lower sounding bars. It pretty much looks like a piano keyboard the way the xylophone notes are laid out.

What is the xylophone called?

Arnold Schlick, a German organist, called the xylophone “hultze glechter” or wooden laughter. This was how the German-speaking regions called the instrument. Soon enough, many influential theoreticians of the age, mentions the xylophone, including Martin Agricola and Michael Praetorius in his Theatrum instrumentorum.

Why was the xylophone so popular?

The popularity of the xylophone at this time was also partly due to the good sound that it had on early records. Composers of the 20th century also gave parts to the xylophone that became larger and more important.

Why do African xylophones have keys?

However, some xylophone models in Africa have keys that increase in pitch outward from the center. This is to accommodate the natural movement of the arms. Other instruments place octaves next to each other and the lowest pitches to the right. It is quite impressive how African xylophones show variety and musicality.

Why is the xylophone called a fiddle?

The reason for this name is that the bars were supported on straw. In this folk instrument, the bars extended away from the player instead of in a line across him.

Where was the first xylophone made?

It was in Asia and Africa that the first xylophone was made and used. It was as early as 2000 BC when xylophones were used in ancient Southeast Asia. These instruments were brought by the Malay-Polynesians to Africa. In the 14th century, xylophones were first mentioned in what is now Mali, on the Niger.

How many bars are there on a xylophone?

To amplify the sound, a resonator tube is placed under each bar of the xylophone. There are 42 to 48 wooden bars on xylophones used in concert halls. Different sounds are produced by different types of wood used to create the bars of a xylophone. Hardwood is the most common wood used but sometimes bamboo is also used.

What family is the xylophone?

Learn xylophone history, how it's made, how it's played, about the percussion family, and a fun fact. The Xylophone is a member of the percussion family. Unlike most percussion instruments, it produces a pitch when struck.

When was the xylophone invented?

The earliest xylophone originated in 2000BC, documented by temple carvings of musicians playing suspended wooden bars. Xylophones were seen in Asia by the 9th century, and later in Africa. By the 16th century, they had reached the European continent.

How to make a sound on a xylophone?

To make a sound on the xylophone, the player must strike a bar with a mallet. When the xylophonist strikes a bar with a hard mallet, the xylophone produces a bright and sharp sound. When the xylophonist strikes a bar with a soft mallet a more muted sound is produced.

Overview

Construction of xylophones

Mallets

History

Use in elementary education

Famous solo works

Famous orchestral excerpts

See also