What is a xylophone: concept, history, description of the instrument

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The xylophone was used exclusively in folk music for a long time, but after external transformations, the boundaries of its use expanded significantly. Today, the sound of this musical instrument adorns the works and repertoire of symphony, brass, pop orchestras and big bands. The extraordinary self-sufficient sound allows you to feel the beauty, understand what a xylophone is, and appreciate the instrument.

History and origin of the instrument

Instruments of the simplest kind, like the xylophone, have ancient roots. The exact origin is unknown, but they were found among African, Latin American peoples, and Asians. The first mention of the xylophone in European countries dates back to the 16th century. Arnolt Schlick talks about what a xylophone is, describing a similar musical instrument hueltze glechter. The instrument itself remained primitive until the 19th century and was popular inwandering European artists.

The instrument underwent its first changes only in 1830, when a musician of Belarusian origin M. Guzikov made amendments to its appearance and design. He arranged the wooden plates in 4 rows. Such a model will exist for the next century. Previously, the xylophone was used for the musical development of children. The history and description of this type of toy is found in literary sources.

The concept and meaning of the word

The meaning of the word "xylophone" comes from the Greek xylon - "wood, tree", and phone - "sound". It is constructed from a number of different-sized wooden plates attached to a stand in 2 or 4 rows. The plates are tuned to specific sounds and notes. To extract sound, it is necessary to hit the records with wooden sticks-hammers of a spherical shape, which are popularly called "goat's legs". Wooden instrument for musical creativity, self-sounding, from the percussion group - that's what a xylophone is.

Description of the design of a modern tool

Tool should be made only from quality wood. That is why the cost of the tool, as a rule, is quite high. The xylophone has a fairly simple design. It consists of a frame-stand and two rows of plates (bars) fixed on it, which are laid on special soft foam pads like piano keys.

They are tuned to a certain pitch, which depends on the lengthplates. The longer, the lower, the shorter, the higher the sound. The range of the xylophone is from the 1st to the 4th octave. A modern instrument for professional performance is located on a special movable stand and looks like a movable table. Musicians usually play while sitting or standing, so the stand is height adjustable.

Xylophone keys are made from the following types of wood:

• alder;
• rosewood;
• maple;
• nut;
• rose tree.

Wood is aged for at least two years and then processed. Keys cut standard size:

• width - 3.8 cm;
• thickness - 2.5 cm;
• length is selected from the required pitch.

Then they are laid out in a certain order at a distance from each other, fastened with a cord between themselves, mounted on a frame. From below, under the keys, special resonators are placed - metal tubes to increase the volume, add volume, color, and saturation to the sound. The resonators are processed, tuned to match the wooden plate.

Xylophon requires periodic adjustment, as wood is prone to aging and reacts to air humidity.

To play, the performer uses two thin wooden sticks, similar to small hammers or spoons with rubber, wooden or plastic tips. Depending on the professionalism of the xylophonist, there can be 3 or 4 sticks. Sticks and tips are selected in accordance with the nature of the music for the intended sound mood.

Sound

The number of keys affects the volume of the instrument's sound. The standard range is from a small octave from the note "fa" to the 4th octave note "to". The main principle is playing with both hands and the exact alternation of strokes.

Notes for the xylophone part are written in the treble clef one octave lower than the real sound. The location in the score is usually below the musical bells part. It perfectly reproduces double notes, arpeggios, wide jumps in intervals, scale passages.

An uncomplicated instrument has a distinctive sound. The timbre can be abrupt or soft. Jerky, quickly fading sounds are extended with the help of special musical techniques.

Many musicians form ensembles that consist only of a drum group, including the xylophone. Interesting facts and various stories tell about the uniqueness and originality of the instrument, which is present both in classical music and in Latin American, ragtime, jazz, musical, even rock. An instrument similar in type and design to a metallophone has long been used for creative development. Children are taught the basics of musical literacy, they explain what a xylophone is, they teach the features of the game.