The vibraphone was invented in the USA in 1921. Its distinctive feature is an electric motor that rotates metal discs inside the resonator tubes beneath the bars. This rotation produces the characteristic “trembling” vibration of the tone — from a gentle pulse to a quick vibrato.
In jazz the vibraphone was made famous by Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, and Gary Burton. Its dreamy, transparent sound makes the vibraphone ideal for ballads, cool jazz, and modal jazz. In the classical world it has been scored by Alban Berg, Britten, and many contemporary composers. The motor can be turned off — and then the vibraphone sounds like a large, ringing bell without the “airy” modulation.
