Mallet percussion has unquestionably been an essential contributor to orchestral music throughout history, but the usefulness of this family of instruments does not stop there. Many genres of music use mallet sounds, also referred to as keyboard percussion. The term mallet percussion refers to a group of pitched percussion instruments that are laid out and pitched like a piano keyboard and typically hit with a mallet, though other extended techniques such as bowing are possible.
Tuned wooden or metal bars resonate to create the unique sound of the given instrument. Examples include standard orchestral instruments such as xylophone, tubular bells, glockenspiel (used famously in Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing in 1967), the vibraphone, which has been used extensively in jazz, and the marimba which has come into its own in more recent years as a prime solo instrument.
Fans of Frank Zappa will certainly remember the incredible mallet work of Ruth Underwood (check it out at 2:07 in the link below):
Have a look at the Appendix for brief descriptions and images of various mallet instruments. In this article, I will be looking at some of the excellent virtual collections of mallet percussion available today.
MARIMBA
Constructed of wooden bars mounted above metal resonator tubes, the large range of a 5-octave concert Marimba provides an array of timbres from the deep and mellow low end to the more xylophone-like top end. Many acoustic marimbas are made with fewer octaves, as a full 5-octave marimba can be upwards of 9 feet wide and quite cumbersome to transport. Virtual marimbas, of course, take up no space at all and can provide tones both realistic and ethereal. Below are a couple of excellent sampled marimbas.
Soniccouture: Grand Marimba
The Grand Marimba from Soniccouture is a sampled 5-octave Yamaha 6100 recorded in stereo with intimacy and non-ambience in mind, no easy task considering the almost 9-foot width of the instrument. A relatively dry and pure sound is available here if desired, and the 70 velocity layers give this marimba impressive detail. For those wishing for a more ambient sound, the effects section includes nice reverbs customizable for room size, stereo width, pre-delay, and saturation. Other available effects include transient shaping, chorus, echo, and a built-in equalizer. A “generative tools” section is also included allowing one to easily explore and create complex loops and polyrhythms.
In addition to regular mallets, articulation can be set to roll, bow, reverse bow, and sticks. A great tremolo feature allows for customization of speed, randomness, and dynamic variation. A tuning section contains a long list of presets for more exotic tunings and customizable fine-tuning. The short example below shows off the stick articulations as well as normal mallets: (Marimba passage from Joseph Schwanter’s “Velocities” 1990.)
Audio PlayerSound Iron Hyperion Percussion: Marimba
For a beautifully spacious sound right out of the box, Sound Iron’s Hyperion Percussion marimba is a great choice. The sampled instrument is an Adams Alpha 5-octave rosewood marimba with an Apex frame. The instrument features 4 mallet choices: hard, soft, yarn, and rubber. Customizable parameters include vibrato depth, attack and release, tuning, and panning. An arpeggiator, LFO, and filter are available as well. The “space” window allows you to position the instrument up close or progressively further away, as well as left or right. Each of the 4 possible layers can be positioned independently.
The example below shows off the instrument’s lush and reverberant tone: (Marimba passage from Joseph Schwanter’s “Velocities” 1990.)
Audio PlayerVIBRAPHONE AND MORE
The vibraphone is actually an electrified instrument, similar in construction to the marimba but made using metal bars as opposed to wood, yielding a much brighter and more metallic tone. The typical range for vibraphone is 3-4 octaves, and the vibrato that the instrument is named for comes from motorized fans which can be sped up or slowed down to create the desired vibrato effect.
The vibraphone has been used extensively in jazz. Renowned musicians such as Gary Burton, Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, and many others have utilized this instrument to great effect.
Soniccouture: Vibraphone
The Vibraphone from Soniccouture has an interface similar to that of the Grand Marimba, with the effects and generative tools windows being identical. Both the marimba and vibraphone come with an extended range if desired or you can retain the range of the real instrument. Soniccouture’s unique “true tremolo modeling” approach creates a wonderfully authentic and fully controllable tremolo effect. Motor speed can be easily customized in the main instrument window, as well as velocity curve and pedal settings. Hear for yourself the tone and authenticity of this instrument below:
Audio PlayerXylo and Bass Marimba for PIANOTEQ from Modartt
Mallet percussion including vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, and xylophone can be found in the many instrument packs available for Pianoteq from Modartt. Modartt (an acronym for Models and Data for ARTs and Technology) takes a different approach to the creation of virtual instruments, using advanced modeling techniques as opposed to sampling. The results are amazingly realistic, and this approach allows for the seemingly endless customization of sound.
As can be seen from the main interface in the example above, adjustable parameters include things like strike point, resonance, microphone type, mallet hardness, and spectrum profile. The “condition” can be set anywhere from mint to worn–a unique parameter. The mint condition setting represents a perfect, crystal clear sound, while the worn setting simulates the sound of an older, poorly maintained instrument. Below is an example of the Glockenspiel:
Audio PlayerAnd the vibraphone set to “worn” with a deep vibrato:
Audio PlayerThe modeling approach taken by Modartt allows for amazing sonic versatility, with much less CPU strain compared to sample-based approaches.
Orchestral Tools: Berlin Percussion
Berlin Percussion, the flagship percussion collection from Orchestral Tools, includes a comprehensive collection of mallet percussion instruments including xylophone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, crotales, vibraphone, and marimba. As part of the acclaimed Berlin Series, these instruments were recorded on the Teldex Scoring Stage in Berlin, with expert musicians located in traditional orchestra seating positions.
Five recorded mic positions can be chosen from and mixed to preference. This allows great control over tone and wet/dry balance. Articulation choices abound as well, along with fully customizable midi mapping. Berlin Percussion is a fantastic choice for any kind of orchestral situation. With options including mallet type, bowing, glissando, tremolo, sustain, staccato, and mic position, most any sound is available. Listen below to some improvised, eerie orchestral sounds created using bowed crotales, soft mallet tubular bells, and short tremolo glockenspiel.
Audio PlayerMallet Flux from Native Instruments
Mallet Flux from Native Instruments is a great collection with high-quality samples that feature glockenspiel, celesta, xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone. As shown in the short xylophone example below, each instrument can be used individually with or without added reverb. (Xylophone example taken from “Gayane Suite no. 3: Sabre Dance” Aram Khachaturian 1942.)
Audio PlayerA standout feature of Mallet Flux is the onboard sequencer that allows composers to effortlessly produce complex rhythms and textures. 270 preset “scenes” are available and customizable. I quickly created the example below using one of the presets:
Audio PlayerMallet type, articulation, reverb, and microphone position can all be easily adjusted. One can quickly select and/or de-select instruments to include in a particular sequence. This is a great choice for anyone looking to rapidly create detailed rhythmic textures.
OTHERS WORTH MENTIONING
Spitfire Audio: Ricotti Mallets
Vienna Symphony Library: Studio Mallets
Project SAM Lineage Percussion Core
FINAL THOUGHTS
The diverse array of virtual mallet percussion instruments available today allows producers and composers to easily incorporate this family of instruments into any genre. From natural percussive sounds to warped textures and complex sequences, the possibilities for creative exploration are vast.
APPENDIX
Marimba – Wood bars mounted on resonating tubes. 3-5 octave range. Deep and mellow on the low end, xylophone-like on the top end.
Vibraphone – Metal bars with motorized fans to create vibrato. 3-4 octave range. Bright and metallic.
Xylophone – Wood bars. 3-4 octave range. Biting woody tone.
Glockenspiel – High-pitched metal bars. 2-3 octave range. Sharp, piercing metallic tone.
Crotales – Tiny mounted symbols, pitched and laid out like a keyboard. 2-octave range. High pitched, slow decaying.
Tubular Bells – Made of brass tubes, also called orchestral chimes. Tone resembles church bells or a grandfather clock. 1-2 octave range.
Celesta – Hammers hit metal bars inside what looks like a piano. 5-octave range. Played like a piano, and sounds somewhat like a vibraphone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Nixon is an accomplished jazz pianist and composer whose music has been broadcast on jazz radio stations around the country and the world. After several years of playing keyboards in rock and blues bands, he began studying jazz with pianist/composer Paul Hofmann (Eastman School of Music) and later earned a Masters degree in Music Theory from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he also studied classical piano and composition. In addition to performing, composing, recording, and mixing, Nixon teaches privately to a full roster of 50+ students. His first two jazz trio albums of original compositions with the group Nixon, Croft and Goretti. have garnered critical acclaim:
“Nixon’s composing is as seemingly effortless as his playing, which makes light of what are often quite complex tunes.” Chris May (All About Jazz)
“Apart from composing, (Andrew) Nixon is a stand-out pianist who swings like the long-gone greats but still lives in the present” (BebopSpokenHere).
You can listen to his music here.
