Anvil
A metal bar. Usually pitched, but not at a specific octave.
Beaters: metal hammers.
Bells
There are
many types of bell apart from tubular bells.
Swiss cowbells, or Almglocken, have a chromatic
range from C3-A5.
Handbells are usually performed by specialist ensembles.
There are 61 bells in a complete handbell set, covering a chromatic
range from C2-C7.
The tubaphone has brass or copper tubes suspended xylophone-style
across a frame. The range is C4-C6, but the instrument is rare.
All beaters may be used (but see tubular bells below)
Crotales
Also known as 'antique cymbals'. Small, thick brass plates. The range is written C4-C6 (sounding two octaves higher).
Beaters: hard mallets.
Flexatone
Steel flange held in a frame and struck by two wooden balls as the player shakes the flexatone. Thumb pressure is used to control pitch, which is distinct but generally in motion (and accompanied by rattling from the balls). Range E5 - A6 approximately.
Beaters: Hand
Flexatone:
High
Low
A typical phrase, ascending and descending
Glockenspiel
Also known
as 'orchestral bells', the glock consists of tuned metal bars, laid
out on a tray or in a frame. The framed versions often have pedals.
The normal written range is from G3-C6 (sounding two octaves higher),
but models vary.
A pan shot across the glock:
Beaters
Construction:
Character:
Notation:
Scale and
arpeggio undamped
Scale and
arpeggio damped
A
high phrase
A low
phrase
A quiet
melody
Low
single note
High single
note
A
famous passage from Dukas' "The Sorcercer's Apprentice"
Gongs
There are many types of gong, but usually they are made of thick brass and tuned. The nipple gong is struck on a raised dome in the middle of the instrument.
Beaters
The middle beater shown is usual. Most other soft beaters may be used, but never use hard beaters on a gong.
Mallets on the nipple gong:
Gong do's and don'ts:
The word 'gong' is Javanese and resembles the sound made by the instrument. Javanese gamelan orchestras contain many different types of gong.
Steel Drums
Hammered out oil drums of varying sizes, usually grouped together to form a steel band. The range of notes available on individual pans varies, but generally are as follows:
- bass pans C2-F3
- cello pans B2-G4
- tenor pans E3-A4
- guitar pans F#3-A5
- alto pans G#3-C#6
- soprano pans C4-E6
Beaters are usually made of soft rubber.
Tubular Bells
Metal tubes, suspended either singly or within a frame. The framed tubells comes with a pedal for damping. The written range is usually from F3 to F5.
Beaters
Soft
hit with full sustain
Loud hit
with full sustain
Vibraphone
Metal bars
placed over resonators, with rotating paddles controlled by motors
to modulate the sound. The range is F3 to F5 (notated at pitch).
A panshot across the vibes:
Beaters
Vibraphone beaters:
Bowed notes:
Bent notes:
Construction of the vibraphone:
The pedal:
Motor speeds:
Single
note, motor off
Single
note, motor on
Scale
and arpeggio, undamped
Scale
and arpeggio, damped
Glissando
up, motor on
Glissando
down, motor on
Bowed
passage, motor on
Bowed
passage, motor off
Roll,
undamped
Roll,
damped
A
typical passage of Bach, showing various techniques