Vibraphone
From Young Composers
|
This article is unfortunately very short and/or underdeveloped. You can help Young Composers by expanding it. |
The vibraphone (or vibes) is a keyboard percussion instrument that consists of a series of metal bars suspended above hollow resonating tubes with a motor-driven mechanical oscillator.
<music> \meterOff \cadenzaOn f, \glissando f </music> Range of a standard vibraphone.
|
History
Leedy Manufacturing Company created the first vibraphones in the United States in 1921. However, the 1921 vibraphone is very different from today's vibraphone.
Lionel Hampton, musician in the Benny Goodman Quintet made the Vibes famous in jazz.
Manufactures
- J. C. Deagan, Inc., of Chicago, IL, USA modern vibes manufacturer. Called Vibraharps.
- Jenco Company, of Decatur, IL, USA called them vibrabells.
- Premier Drum Company, of London, UK
- Bergerault, of Ligueil, France began 1930s
- Musser Company 1948-Claire Omar Musser
- Yamaha Corporation 1960s and 1970s Yamaha took Leedy's design and improved it.
| Instruments and Voices | |
|---|---|
| Woodwinds | Flute (Piccolo/Alto/Bass) • Recorder • Oboe (Cor Anglais/Oboe D'amore/Heckelphone) • Clarinet (E♭/Bass/Contrabass) • |
| Brass | Horn • Cornet • Trumpet • Trombone • Euphonium • Tuba • Saxhorns |
| Keyboards | Piano • Organ • Harmonium • Harpsichord • Clavichord • Celesta • Accordion |
| Percussion | Tuned: Timpani • Glockenspiel • Chimes • Vibraphone • Xylophone • Marimba • Crotales • Musical saw • Hammered Dulcimer
Untuned: Snare drum • Bass drum • Triangle • Cymbals • Gongs • Tom-toms • Shakers • Drumset |
| Electronic | Theremin • Ondes Martenot • Synthesizer • Electronic Wind Instrument |
| Stringed | Bowed: Violin • Viola • Violoncello • Contrabass |
| Voices | Female: Soprano • Mezzo-soprano (often mistaken with Alto) • Contralto (often mistaken with Alto)
Male: Treble • Countertenor • Tenor • Baritone • Bass-baritone • Bass |
