Concept in Definition ABC

The xylophone, also called xylophone, it's a percussion musical instrument made up of a series of slats that can be made of wood or from metal and whose origin dates back to century XVIII.

Each of the slats or sheets is tuned according to a tone or musical note specific to the scale chromatic. The order of the plates is similar to that of the keys of a piano.

Its primary function is percussion, while the most used resource in it is called tremolo which consists of striking alternately with both drumsticks on the same sheet.

For its complex and precise techniqueYes or yes, the xylophone will demand from the percussionist a great technique that many times only natural virtuosity is capable of giving.

Compared to the marimba, another percussion instrument to which it is linked due to their physical similarity, the xylophone, has a more lively tone than this and the notes are less sustained. When the xylophone in question has a record lower than that of the marimba is called xylorimba.

If the xylophone is entrusted to fulfill the method Orff, it will be mounted in a rectangular wooden box.

We can find three types of xylophones such as bass, alto and soprano, of a scale and a half each, mounted on sheets of wood, the most recommended being rosewood.

Especially it will be in the classic pieces in which the xylophone presents an important presence and relevance, among the most popular we can mention: Danse Macabre and Fossils from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint Saëns and Symphony No. 6 by Gustav Mahler.

In the present, xylophones feature short percussion sheets and the role they play in today's orchestras day is to act as independent and very important timbres in terms of orchestral development regards.