Overview and Brief History of Mallet Percussion

The family of mallet percussion is a fascinating one to explore. These are some of the oldest musical instruments invented, and probably the first pitched instruments created by man. Historians have dated the first fully developed Xylophone to 3500 B.C. Different versions of the primitive Xylophone began to appear in Africa and the Orient in the 14th century. In Africa the instrument transformed into the "Marimba". African slaves introduced the African Marimba to Latin America during the years of the slave trade. In Europe, Mallet Percussion instruments were first introduced to European orchestras in 1874.

These are large musical instruments of simple, elegant design. Ancient people in Asia and Africa were the first to construct basic versions of these instruments. Blocks of carved hardwood were suspended over a box-like resonator, which produced a beautiful soft sound. In Indonesia various mallet instruments were developed with metal. A formal musical ensemble called Gamelan evolved from the creation of these tuned and untuned percussion instruments. Read More»

Today's modern models still employ this original design. Tuned bars of rosewood or metal are strung over a wooden frame. The resonator is usually a measured metal tube, sealed on the bottom. This enclosed chamber provides a natural amplification for each bar. The bars are tuned chromatically, like the keys of a piano.

All of the instruments are played with thin wooden rods with a small, hard rubber or plastic ball on the end. These "mallets" sometimes have yarn wrapped around the rubber ball to soften the sound when it strikes the bar.

To learn more about each of these instruments, hear what they sound like, and read the biographies of famous mallet percussion musicians, visit the links at the top and bottom of each page.

This site is a work in progress and will be continually changing as new recordings and musicians emerge onto the public scene. If you are a music teacher, or are interested in taking up the study of vibraphone, marimba, or xylophone, please visit our new For Teachers page. Expansion of the links page and the musicians page will be ongoing. So plan to revisit here from time to time and check out what's new!

Downloads include great mp3 piano accompaniments!