Vibrafono

As Printed on a Score

Labels the vibraphone (Vibrafono; Vib. later), on a treble-clef staff at sounding pitch. Pedal markings control the dampers as on a piano, and motor on or off tells the player whether the rotating discs that make the vibrato should run. Vib. also abbreviates vibrato, so context decides.

Abbreviations: Vib.

How Composers Use It

Aluminium bars over resonating tubes, with a damper pedal and an electric motor whose spinning discs give the characteristic pulsing vibrato. With the pedal down the sound sustains for a long time, so harmonies blur unless you mark the pedalling; with the motor off it gives a pure, cool tone. Invented in the 1920s and made famous in jazz, it entered the concert orchestra with works such as Berg’s Lulu.

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