Jazz musicians who play the Vibraphone are rightly sensitive about their instrument being called a Xylophone, since many people have never even heard of the Vibes, and even though I do know they are different, I didn’t realize that Lionel Hampton and Red Norvo each started on a Xylophone in the 1920’s. The Xylophone’s shorter wooden bars made it difficult to sustain notes, and the Vibraphone solved this problem by including resonating tubes under aluminum bars, and a small electrical motor which amplified the resonance.
Check out George Hamilton Green doing Ragtime Robin on Xylophone in the early 20th Century:
I like your xylophone post too! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I had difficulties posting my reflections post but it is finally up now. You have a very artistic blog, very much my style! 🙂
Glad to have you visit.