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  4. Glockenspiel Range

  • Glockenspiel Range

    G
    G

     Hi all!

    I just figured out that the SE Glockenspiel only has range of 2,5 octaves (which means i have to do some tweaking, or use other glockenspiel for my current project). So out of curiosity, does the full DVD Percussion Glockenspiel come with 3 octaves?

    Even Vienna Acadamey states that:

    Three-octave mallet-played glockenspiels are usual in the symphony orchestra.

    Best regards

    Gabriel
  • A
    A

     Glockenspiel A in the full DVD library goes from F4 to D7 (34 notes), and Glockenspiel B goes from F4 to C7 (32 notes). Note the glockenspiel is a transposing instrument, so sounds an octave higher than written, so it sounds F5 to D8, so it is a shame that VSL doesn't have a 3 octave glockenspiel.
  • G
    G

     Thanks anyjh!

    Yeah F5 to F8 is what i remember as well.

    I am just wondering why they state it as "usual" but have something smaller ;(
  • J
    J

    As far as I know, a Glock is written 2 octaves lower than sounding, and a Xylophone is written 1 octave lower.
  • L
    L

    If the glockenspiel should be written 2 octaves higher, does anyone know why it starts from F4 in VSL?

    I find this kind of misleading when I have to use VSL with sibelius, because Sibelius' glockenspiel performs the automatic transposition as well, resulting 1 octave lower than it should be (even if I can change Sibelius behavior).  Is there a reason VSL glock starts from F4?
  • andiA
    VSL Team
    andiA

    Hello Lakelshikawa!

    The Glockenspiel has been mapped one octave lower to make the whole range playable on a keyboard with 88 keys. I admit that this might be misleading when used in Sibelius though. I'll think about adjusting the octave for the Glockenspiel VI presets for Sibelius or the Glockenspiel instrument in the "Vienna Symphonic Library" House Style.

    Best regards,
    Andi

    Vienna Symphonic Library
  • L
    L

    Hi andi,

    that is a very good reason indeed!  In sibelius I just have to adjust the glockenspiel instrument and take the range pitch down an octave so that notes don't turn red incorrectly, I think that would indeed be a reasonable fix for VSL house style!

    Thanks for clarifying that!