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Orchestra Bells & Glockenspiels

In a symphony orchestra or marching band, the percussion section not only keeps the beat - it's also responsible for bringing colorful sound to the entire ensemble. Orchestra bells and glockenspiels are instruments that do just that. And while this catalog is made up of many different types of orchestra bells and glockenspiels - including single hand bells, bell trees, full sets of concert bells and more - they all have one thing in common: they each bring a unique sound and feel to any musical arrangement.

The glockenspiel is made up of tuned metal keys arranged horizontally in the same fashion as a xylophone. Also known as orchestra bells, the glockenspiel is played with a set of mallets to produce a bright, penetrating sound that can be heard in music ranging from classical pieces like Handel's "Saul" and Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte" to Rush's hit song "Closer to the Heart". If you're a Neil Peart fan and want to emulate his sweet sound on the glock, check out a set of bells like the Majestic 2.5-Octave Orchestra Bells. They feature precision-tuned 1-1/4" wide bars for maximum resonance and sustain that sounds exceptionally well in live performance settings.

This selection also features a variety of single bells that each bring something different to your percussion setup. If you love the sound of samba, you're going to want to pick up a Gon Bops Tumbao Series Cha Cha Bell. Designed for mounted use, this bell offers a lively sound with a dry medium pitch that lends itself perfectly to Latin-inspired music. Another great single bell option is the Aluphone Hand Bell. Suitable for music education and elementary music training, this single bell is attached to a beautiful wooden handle and can be played individually or as part of a handbell choir.

Since there are so many different orchestra bells and glockenspiels to browse, try to spend some time getting to know a little more about each one. You never know when the right instrument is going to jump off the page and into your percussion setup.