A Little Learning… Xylophone
The dance of the sugar plum fairy, as recognized by the sound "dum diddle um dum dum dum", is not typically performed on the xylophone, contrary to popular belief. It is actually played on the celesta, a type of glockenspiel that utilizes a keyboard instead of beaters. The glockenspiel and xylophone may sound similar due to their percussive nature, but they are actually quite distinct. The glockenspiel, meaning "bell-play" in German, has metal keys, while the xylophone, deriving from the Greek words xylon for "wood" and phone for "sound", has wooden slats. The glockenspiel produces a brassy clink, while the xylophone possesses a range of sounds depending on the register and types of mallets utilized. Traditionally, xylophone slats are made of the finest rosewood, but synthetic materials such as Kelon or Klyperon are now frequently used.
Interestingly, mallet percussion instruments, such as the xylophone, are among the oldest musical instruments that were created. Dating back to biblical times, a fully developed wooden mallet percussion instrument was already in existence from 3500 BC. Different versions of xylophones can be found in cultures all over the world, with one of the oldest being the "Balafon", also known as African xylophone. African slaves introduced the instrument to South and Central America where it became known as the "marimba".
The xylophone arrived in Europe around the year 1500 and quickly became a popular folk instrument in Central Europe. By the 19th century, Polish and Russian performers had popularized the xylophone in Western Europe. It was not until 1874, however, that it was first used in an orchestra.
Playing the xylophone does come with its challenges, as it requires the learning of scales and arpeggios, not to mention double stops used to play chords. Despite this, it is a unique and rewarding instrument that is worth giving a try.
