Orchestra Chime

Instrument of percussion, of the category of the idiophones, composed by a set of metallic tubes of definite height. The chime is usually made of hollow tubes made of brass or steel, with a diameter of about three to seven centimeters and proportional length, fixed in vertical arrangement, in two distinct rows (as if it were a keyboard) , in an iron frame. The instrument is built on three predominant models, of different pitch: an octave and a fourth (from C3 to F4), two octaves (from F2 to F4) or three octaves (from C2 to C4). The tubes are struck at the upper end, usually reinforced with a capsule of the same metal, by a plastic or leather hammer, with an end covered with leather or felt to ensure the sound contrast, or rubbed on the lower end . The tubes are stifled by a pedal mechanism, which must be activated to ensure its free vibration (and its continuous). The instrument, which aims to reproduce the loudness of the church chime, was introduced in the last decade of the nineteenth century in orchestral strength, being, however, currently used for the performance of works for orchestra, harmony , opera or stage music composed since the second quarter of the 19th century.

Takes the bell tree designation the percussion instrument consisting of several tubes of different size, on the proportional arrangement, in single file, percussion by rod or by the hand of the percussionist.

Bibliography
James Blades & James Holland, “Tubular Bells” in New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Macmillan, 2001.