The xylophone is a musical instrument made of wooden bars that you hit with mallets to make different sounds.

Key idea: While 'xylophone' is often used broadly, in music it specifically means an instrument with wooden bars, distinct from metal or stone bar instruments.

Sometimes, people use the word "xylophone" to describe any instrument with bars that you hit, like the marimba or even toy instruments. However, in an orchestra, the term "xylophone" is very specific. It refers to an instrument that has a higher sound and a drier, shorter ringing sound compared to a marimba. It is important not to confuse these two instruments, even though they look similar.

A person who plays the xylophone is called a xylophonist.

A common mistake people make is calling any bar instrument a xylophone. But if the bars are made of metal, like in many children's toy 'xylophones', it is actually a glockenspiel, not a true xylophone. If the bars are made of stone, it is a lithophone.

“If the bars are made of metal, it is actually a glockenspiel, not a true xylophone.”

How Xylophones are Built

Key idea: Modern xylophones use specific woods or synthetic materials, often include resonators to enhance sound, and can vary greatly in size.

Modern xylophones, especially those used in Western music, are often made with strong woods like rosewood or padauk. Some even use synthetic materials like fiberglass to make the sound louder. The size of a xylophone can vary; some have a range of about two and a half octaves (like a small piano keyboard), but concert xylophones usually have three and a half or four octaves.

Concert xylophones have special tubes called resonators under each bar. These tubes help make the sound louder and last longer. The instrument's frame can be made of wood or metal, and more expensive ones often let you adjust their height for comfort. In other cultures, you might find xylophones with gourds or hollow bodies that act as resonators.

Interestingly, the music for a xylophone is often written one octave lower than how it actually sounds. This is a common practice for some instruments to make the sheet music easier to read.

Mallets for Playing

Key idea: Different mallets, from hard rubber to yarn covered, are used to create a variety of sounds on the xylophone.

The type of mallet you use greatly changes the sound of a xylophone. For a bright, clear sound, players typically use very hard mallets made of rubber, polyball, or acrylic. If you want a softer sound, you might use medium hard rubber mallets or even mallets covered in yarn.

Wooden mallets, made from woods like rosewood or ebony, can also be used to create lighter, more delicate tones. Choosing the right mallet is like choosing the right brush for painting; it helps create the exact musical color you want.

“Choosing the right mallet is like choosing the right brush for painting; it helps create the exact musical color you want.”

A Look Back in Time: History

Key idea: The xylophone's origins are ancient and debated, possibly stemming from Southeast Asia or independently developing in Africa.

The exact beginning of the xylophone is a bit of a mystery, but it is very old. Some experts think it might have started in Southeast Asia and then traveled to Africa around 500 AD. They point to similarities between xylophone orchestras in East Africa and the Gamelan orchestras in Java and Bali.

However, other researchers believe the xylophone might have developed independently in Africa. They note the unique features of African xylophones and the wide variety of similar instruments found there, suggesting a local invention rather than an imported one.

Xylophones in Asia

Key idea: Asia has a long history with xylophones, featuring diverse types and cultural significance across various regions.

The earliest clear evidence of a xylophone comes from Southeast Asia in the 9th century. However, a similar instrument made of hanging wood might have existed in China much earlier, around 2000 BC. In Indonesia, many regions have their own types of xylophones, like the Garantung used by the Toba Batak people or the gambang found in Gamelan music.

These instruments still hold great cultural importance in places like Malaysia, Thailand, and Myanmar. For example, in Myanmar, the xylophone is called a Pattala and is typically made from bamboo.

Xylophones in Africa

Key idea: African xylophones are diverse, often use natural gourds as resonators, and feature complex interlocking rhythms.

Africa is home to many different kinds of xylophones. The term marimba is often used for traditional folk instruments like the balafon from West Africa. Early African xylophones were sometimes built with bars placed over gourds, which acted as natural resonators.

Makers would carefully choose the size of the gourd and adjust its opening to get the perfect sound. The mallets for these instruments were often made from natural rubber. A unique feature in some East African xylophone music is "interlocking" rhythms, where two players play alternating parts that fit together to create a complex sound.

Specific African Xylophones

Key idea: Africa boasts a rich variety of unique xylophones like the mbila, gyil, and amadinda, each with distinct construction, cultural roles, and musical styles.

The mbila is a special type of xylophone from Mozambique, played by the Chopi people. It is known for its incredibly complex music, often performed by large groups of around ten xylophones of different sizes. These ensembles play long pieces of music called "ngomi" or "mgodo" that accompany choreographed dances, sometimes telling historical stories.

The leader of the ensemble is not just a musician but also a poet, composer, and conductor, creating melodies and guiding the performance. The music can even include songs that talk about local issues or playfully tease community figures!

Another important African xylophone is the gyil, used by Gur-speaking people in West Africa. It is often played in pairs, sometimes with a drum, and is a key part of Dagara funeral traditions. The gyil has 14 wooden keys and uses calabash gourds with spider web silk over holes to create a buzzing sound.

The amadinda and akadinda are xylophone like instruments from Uganda. The amadinda is played by three musicians who sit opposite each other, playing interlocking patterns at a very fast speed. Unlike many other African xylophones, it does not use gourds or have a buzzing sound. These instruments were very important in the royal court of Buganda.

The Western Xylophone

Key idea: The Western xylophone evolved from folk instruments to orchestral use, gaining popularity in jazz before the rise of the vibraphone, and remains a valued orchestral instrument.

The first mention of a xylophone in Europe was in a German book from 1511, where it was called "hültze glechter," meaning "wooden clatter." The instrument was popular in the folk music of Central Europe for a long time.

The xylophone first appeared in a European orchestra in 1874, in a piece by the French composer Camille Saint Saëns. Before this, a musician named Michael Josef Gusikov helped make the instrument well known by performing with a five row xylophone that had no resonators and was played very fast with spoon shaped sticks.

In the early 20th century, the xylophone was a hit in jazz bands and vaudeville shows because its bright, lively sound fit well with the dance music of the time. However, its popularity later decreased as the vibraphone, an instrument with metal keys, became more common. Sometimes, a xylophone that has a lower range, similar to a marimba, is called a xylorimba.

Today, the xylophone is still used in orchestras. Composers like Shostakovich loved to use it, giving it important parts in many of his works. Modern xylophonists continue to perform and explore the instrument's capabilities.

In Schools

Key idea: Xylophones are widely used in music education, especially for children, to foster musical development through hands on learning.

Xylophones are wonderful tools for teaching music to children. Many music teachers use them in classrooms to help kids learn about rhythm, melody, and musical development. The Orff Schulwerk method, for example, uses xylophones along with movement, singing, and speech to teach music.

Classroom xylophones are usually smaller than performance ones, often having about one and a half octaves. This makes them easier for children to handle and learn on. They are a fun and hands on way for young learners to explore the world of music.