The xylophone is a percussion musical instrument which, most scientists believe, originated in Slovakia, though early versions of it were also found in Africa and Asia. But a more recent study suggests the oldest xylophone to be unearthed came from 9th century Southeast Asia. There's even a similar hanging wood instrument in China dated all the way back to 2000 BC.
The instrument found its niche as a member of the 1920s and 30s jazz bands. Famous jazz vibes player Red Norvo played the xylophone in the early days of his career. Ian Finkle is another contemporary xylophone musician. He plays for large classical, vaudeville and contemporary ensembles.
To go just a bit into the technical aspects of xylophone makes, some employ diatonic scales (which boast of a certain seven-tone scale) while others only work with a pentatonic scale, which, as you must have already guessed, works with five tones. You should keep in mind, however, that the tones of a xylophone are not limited by these options; there are several more released into the market. Although there is a basic construction to the xylophone: a set of bars with various lengths (regardless of whether they are metallic or wooden) is mounted onto a frame, while a mallet is to strike, thus producing the ideally perfectly pitched sound. The difference of bar lengths dictate the several notes that can be played. Some xylophones even feature a resonator right below the bars to help sustain a note. This resonator is mostly used by concert xylophones, although some of the lower-end instruments do boast of it. Whatever the make of the instrument may be, it all comes down to the fact that xylophones are elegant instruments, befitting even today's most prestigious orchestras.
The prices of xylophones vary with the clarity of sound, the sustaining of notes,the overall craftsmanship afforded to it and the name of the manufacturer. The rule of thumb here, however, is that when there are more bars (hence, more notes, more versatility for different types of music), the pricier the instrument is expected to be. Costing anywhere between 20 USD to over 6000 USD, you would do well to undergo a significant amount of research before making a purchase. What better place to do that research than right there, in the comfort of your computer chair?
Browse around these pages which feature a massive collection of all types of xylophones; all the scales, all the materials, and ultimately all the makes of this quaint instrument can be found right here. Best of all, these items are heavily described, and can be placed alongside each other—shopping technology at its most advanced and most convenient.
Start playing the right notes here and begin your journey towards the possibility of true musical genius through the age-old instrument that is the xylophone. |
