Glockenspiel

As Printed on a Score

The German, and now international, name (Glockenspiel; Glsp., Glock., Glk. or Glockensp. later), on a treble-clef staff written two octaves below sounding pitch. Italian scores call it Campanelli and French ones Jeu de timbres; a keyboard glockenspiel is sometimes specified instead of the mallet instrument.

Abbreviations: Glsp., Glock., Glk., Glockensp.

How Composers Use It

Steel bars struck with hard mallets give a bright, ringing ping that sits on top of any texture, best for doubling the highest notes of a melody or adding sparkle to a figure. Mozart’s Magic Flute uses a keyboard version for Papageno’s bells, and Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice gives the instrument a prominent orchestral part. Because it sounds two octaves up, keep the written part in the treble staff.

Example

Mahler, Symphony No. 5, third movement (Scherzo), staff label: “Glockenspiel.”, shortened to “Glockensp.” on later systems.

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