xylofon

Xylofon, or xylophone in English, is a percussion instrument in the idiophone family. It consists of a row of wooden bars arranged in a keyboard-like layout and mounted over resonators. When struck with mallets, each bar produces a pitched note. The bars are typically made of hardwoods such as rosewood or maple, though modern instruments may use synthetic materials. The bars are tuned to a chromatic scale and laid out over several octaves. Resonator tubes beneath many bars amplify the sound, giving the instrument its characteristic bright, penetrating tone. The xylophone is usually played with one mallet in each hand, commonly using two mallets per hand for more complex passages, and players vary strike, two-stroke articulation, and damping to shape articulation. The sound has a clear attack and relatively short sustain, compared with the marimba.

Historically, wooden keyboard percussion instruments with arranged bars have roots in Africa and Asia through instruments such as the balafon and ranat, but the modern concert xylophone developed in the 19th century and became a standard instrument in orchestras and bands in the 20th century. It is used in classical and contemporary music and has featured in notable works such as Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, which highlighted its bright timbre.

Variants and related instruments: The xylophone is related to the marimba and vibraphone; these instruments differ in bar length, material, and resonator design, which affect range and sustain. Maintenance involves tuning bars, replacing worn mallets, and ensuring resonators are functioning.