The xylophone is a musical instrument.
Xylophone is the name of a musical instrument that, due to its characteristics, is part of the so-called percussion instruments . It consists of different sheets located horizontally that, when hit with drumsticks , emit different sounds according to their tuning .
The various blades of the xylophone, therefore, sound in different pitches (that is, with different musical notes ). The organization of the sheets can be compared to the organization of the keys of a piano .
Features of the xylophone
Also called xylophone , this instrument has wooden blades . Therefore, its notes have a shorter duration compared to the notes provided by instruments with metal plates, such as the metallophone . This is because wooden sheets have lower vibration than metal sheets.
According to the size, it is possible to differentiate between the bass xylophone , the alto xylophone and the soprano xylophone . Larger xylophones can make about 48 different notes .
Its use in orchestras
Many symphony orchestras use xylophones. The person who plays the xylophone must know precisely the technique to obtain the appropriate sounds from the instrument. In some cases, for example, the same sheet is hit with both drumsticks, alternately, to achieve a certain effect.
Although its appearance presents it as a less complex instrument than a piano or a harpsichord, it is an important component of many orchestras , since some of the great composers have included it in their works; such is the case of Gustav Mahler 's "Symphony No. 6" , and "Carnival of the Animals" and "Danse macabre" , both by Camille Saint-Saëns .
The xylophone is used in pedagogical techniques and music therapy.
The xylophone and the Orff method
It is important to note that there are small xylophones that are used in the field of education so that children become familiar with the pentatonic scale. In this case, the xylophone allows you to apply the so-called Orff method , a pedagogical technique promoted by the German composer Carl Orff that is also used in music therapy .
With respect to Orff , we can also say that his creations are located within the framework of musical neoclassicism and that his best-known work is probably "Carmina Burana" . Returning to the pedagogical method that bears his name, which is also known as schulwerk ( school work ), it emerged largely as a result of Orff 's work in a teaching center that he founded with Dorothee Günther in 1924 .
The Orff method focuses on a single repertoire , which resulted from a long-standing collaboration with Gunild Keetman , which focused on children's approach to music. In other words, it is a compilation of works carried out in a meticulous and systematized manner, with a clear pedagogical objective.
The scale used by the Orff method is pentatonic, meaning it has five different notes; In this case, the sequence is as follows: sol, mi, la, do, re . Through this approach to percussion instruments using the xylophone, concepts such as meter, rhythm, pronunciation and intonation of words when accompanied by music are also internalized. On the other hand, it is a good way to introduce children to the traditional songs of their culture.
One of the first activities that the Orff method proposes to students is the interpretation of rhythmic patterns of little complexity ; Little by little, percussion instruments such as the glockenspiel , metallophone and xylophone are incorporated into teaching to complement the learning. It is important to note that these instruments are presented in versions and sizes appropriate to the age of each student, so that they are not overwhelming, but attractive and easy to use.