Which instrument in this set sounds two octaves higher than written?

Which instrument in this set sounds two octaves higher than written?

• A. Xylophone
• B. English horn
• C. Horn in F
• D. Glockenspiel

Answer: (D)

Pitches are not always heard at the same place they’re written. The glockenspiel is designed to sound two octaves higher than what is written. That means if you see a note on the page, the player actually hears a note two octaves higher when the bars are struck. This keeps the music readable on the treble staff while the instrument produces very bright, high tones. For example, a written middle C on the glockenspiel would sound as C two octaves up (around C6). The xylophone, English horn, and horn in F all transpose differently: the horn and English horn sound a fifth lower than written, and the xylophone is typically not transposed by octaves in the same way. Therefore, the glockenspiel is the instrument that sounds two octaves higher than written.

Pitches are not always heard at the same place they’re written. The glockenspiel is designed to sound two octaves higher than what is written. That means if you see a note on the page, the player actually hears a note two octaves higher when the bars are struck. This keeps the music readable on the treble staff while the instrument produces very bright, high tones.

For example, a written middle C on the glockenspiel would sound as C two octaves up (around C6). The xylophone, English horn, and horn in F all transpose differently: the horn and English horn sound a fifth lower than written, and the xylophone is typically not transposed by octaves in the same way. Therefore, the glockenspiel is the instrument that sounds two octaves higher than written.