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Glockenspiel

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Glockenspiel
A Glockenspiel
Percussion instrument
Other namesConcert bells, orchestral bells, carillon
Classification Keyboard percussion
Hornbostel–Sachs classification111.212
(Concussive idiophone or set of percussion sticks whose sound is generated by way of being struck by a mallet)
Playing range
written like F3–C6, sounds like F5–C8
Related instruments
xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, tubular bells

The glockenspiel is a percussion instrument. It originated in Germany. It is in the same category as the xylophone and timpani. It usually has a range of 2 and a half octaves. It is set up in a keyboard instrument format. It is played by hitting it with mallets that have a plastic or felt tip. It has a soft sound, but very high pitch. If it is hit too hard, it makes a very bad sound. Its sound is often used to represent things such as fairies, birds, and butterflies.