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Steel Marimba: MOS:HEAD
Vibraphone was invented in 1921. The original site you had was listing every improvement to the instrument (starting in 1927). Even though the actual instrument was invented in 1921.
 
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{{Short description|Obsolete tuned percussion instrument}}
The '''marimbaphone''' (not to be confused with the similarly named [[marimba]]) is an obsolete tuned percussion instrument, developed by the [[J.C. Deagan Company]] of [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S. in the early 20th century.
{{distinguish|text = the similarly named [[marimba]]}}
[[File:Marimbaphone advert.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|A 1911 advertisement for a marimbaphone]]
The '''marimbaphone''' is an obsolete tuned percussion instrument, developed by [[J. C. Deagan, Inc.]], of [[Chicago, Illinois]], in the early 20th century.


==Description==
The marimbaphone had either shallow steel or wooden bars arranged chromatically with a tube resonator under each bar. Its [[timbre]] was similar to the [[celesta]], and it was used mainly by marimba bands and as a solo instrument by stage artists.
The marimbaphone had either shallow steel or wooden bars arranged chromatically with a tube resonator under each bar. Its [[timbre]] was similar to the [[celesta]], and it was used mainly by marimba bands and as a solo instrument by stage artists.


In addition to being played with mallets in the conventional way (as in the playing of a marimba or [[vibraphone]]), the marimbaphone was designed so that its bars could be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, allowing them to more easily be played with a bow. To further facilitate bowing, the ends of its bars were concave rather than flat. A single marimbaphone could be played by more than one performer, allowing both techniques to be used simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Deagan Resource - A Historical Reference Catalog of Deagan Instruments|url=http://www.deaganresource.com/index.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=www.deaganresource.com}}</ref>
In addition to being played with mallets in the conventional way (as in the playing of a marimba or [[vibraphone]]), the marimbaphone was designed so that its bars could be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, allowing them to more easily be played with a bow. To further facilitate bowing, the ends of its bars were shaped to be concave rather than flat. A single marimbaphone could be played by more than one performer, allowing both techniques to be used simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Deagan Resource - A Historical Reference Catalog of Deagan Instruments|url=http://www.deaganresource.com/index.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=www.deaganresource.com}}</ref>


Although the instrument has been comparatively little used in art music ([[Percy Grainger]] was one of only a few composers ever to call for it), the name is found in many scores where the ordinary [[marimba]] is meant.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Blades|first1=James|title=The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Marimbaphone"|date=2001|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0195170672|editor1-last=Sadie|editor1-first=Stanley|edition=Second|location=London|editor2-last=Tyrrell|editor2-first=John}}</ref>
Although the instrument has been comparatively little used in art music ([[Percy Grainger]] was one of only a few composers ever to call for it), the name is mistakenly written in many scores intending the use of the ordinary [[marimba]] rather than the marimbaphone.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Blades|first1=James|title=The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Marimbaphone"|date=2001|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0195170672|editor1-last=Sadie|editor1-first=Stanley|edition=Second|location=London|editor2-last=Tyrrell|editor2-first=John}}</ref>


== Steel marimba ==
== Steel marimba ==
Also invented by Deagan was the steel marimba, a variation on the steel marimbaphone design that was intended to be played strictly with mallets and not bowed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Deagan Resource|url=http://www.deaganresource.com/steelmar.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=www.deaganresource.com}}</ref> Both of these instruments were superseded by the invention of the vibraphone in 1927.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Deagan Resource|url=http://www.deaganresource.com/vibraphones.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=www.deaganresource.com}}</ref>
Also invented by Deagan was the steel marimba, a variation on the steel marimbaphone design that was intended to be played strictly with mallets and not bowed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Deagan Resource|url=http://www.deaganresource.com/steelmar.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=www.deaganresource.com}}</ref> Both of these instruments were superseded by the invention of the vibraphone in 1921.<ref>{{Cite web |title=vibraphone · Grinnell College Musical Instrument Collection · Grinnell College Libraries |url=https://omeka-s.grinnell.edu/s/MusicalInstruments/item/2395 |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=omeka-s.grinnell.edu}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Marimba]]
*[[Vibraphone]]
*[[Xylorimba]]
*[[Xylorimba]]
*[[Tuned percussion]]
*[[Tuned percussion]]
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023042258/http://www.pas.org/experience/onlinecollection/deaganmarimbaphone7015.aspx Deagan Steel Marimbaphone exhibit] from Percussive Arts Society Museum site
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023042258/http://www.pas.org/experience/onlinecollection/deaganmarimbaphone7015.aspx Deagan Steel Marimbaphone exhibit] from Percussive Arts Society Museum site


[[Category:Keyboard percussion]]
[[Category:Keyboard percussion instruments]]


{{percussion-instrument-stub}}{{Percussion instruments}}
{{Percussion instruments}}


{{Mallet-stub}}

Latest revision as of 17:05, 12 February 2024

A 1911 advertisement for a marimbaphone

The marimbaphone is an obsolete tuned percussion instrument, developed by J. C. Deagan, Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, in the early 20th century.

Description

[edit]

The marimbaphone had either shallow steel or wooden bars arranged chromatically with a tube resonator under each bar. Its timbre was similar to the celesta, and it was used mainly by marimba bands and as a solo instrument by stage artists.

In addition to being played with mallets in the conventional way (as in the playing of a marimba or vibraphone), the marimbaphone was designed so that its bars could be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position, allowing them to more easily be played with a bow. To further facilitate bowing, the ends of its bars were shaped to be concave rather than flat. A single marimbaphone could be played by more than one performer, allowing both techniques to be used simultaneously.[1]

Although the instrument has been comparatively little used in art music (Percy Grainger was one of only a few composers ever to call for it), the name is mistakenly written in many scores intending the use of the ordinary marimba rather than the marimbaphone.[2]

Steel marimba

[edit]

Also invented by Deagan was the steel marimba, a variation on the steel marimbaphone design that was intended to be played strictly with mallets and not bowed.[3] Both of these instruments were superseded by the invention of the vibraphone in 1921.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Deagan Resource - A Historical Reference Catalog of Deagan Instruments". www.deaganresource.com. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  2. ^ Blades, James (2001). Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Marimbaphone" (Second ed.). London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0195170672.
  3. ^ "The Deagan Resource". www.deaganresource.com. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  4. ^ "vibraphone · Grinnell College Musical Instrument Collection · Grinnell College Libraries". omeka-s.grinnell.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
[edit]