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MMD > Archives > January 2002 > 2002.01.06 > 08Prev  Next


Chrysoglott & Harp in Organs
By Ed Copeland

Yes, Chrysoglotts are found on theatre organs.  The ones I have seen
are all single-stroke instruments with metal bars and long resonators.
The beaters are either round balls covered with felt or a felt piano
hammer types.  I usually describe the sound as being that of a set of
Vibes without the motor turned on and the baffles (the little round
discs in the Vibraphone, mounted to a long rod which turns) in the
open position.

Chrysoglotts are one of the most common percussions found on both
theatre and church organs.  On church organs it is usually called
"Harp".  On theatre organs it is called "Chrysoglott" so as not to
be confused with the "Marimba Harp", or the "Celestes".  It is my
understanding that the origin is the celesta keyboard instrument;
an example is "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies".

Hope that sheds some light.

Ed Copeland
http://www.ourmusicalhouse.com/

 [ According to the researchers of the Encyclopedia Britannica,
 [ the xylophones roots are traced to Africa and Southeast Asia in
 [ "ancient times."  The xylophone is the "forerunner of the modern
 [ marimba," we are told.
 [
 [ The metallophone instruments are descendants of the xylophone,
 [ deriving from the Javanese saran in which bronze replaces wood
 [ as the resonating material.  A traveler introduced J.C. Deagan
 [ to some of the unique Javanese instruments, which inspired the
 [ "shaker chimes" and other Deagan metallophones.  -- Robbie


(Message sent Sun 6 Jan 2002, 10:03:16 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Chrysoglott, Harp, Organs

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