In the instrumentation of the opera Turandot there is something called bass xylophone, but I couldn't find many things about it. What is it? And, since it doesn't seem to be a common instrument, how do orchestras substitute it if they doesn't have one? With a marimba?
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According to Italian Wikipedia (translation by Google)
The instrument has a [range] that goes from G2 to G4, and [although] the notation for the instrument is [in] bass clef, ... the instrument plays [an octave higher], it is therefore a transposing instrument.
The structure is more similar to that of a marimba than a xylophone, and its sound, quite dark, does not stand out much in orchestral ensembles.
Since it is not very common, ... and due to its large size, it is often ... replace[d] ... with the marimba. [emphasis mine]
(Wikipedia: Xilofono Basso)
The Wikipedia entry is a paraphrase from Le percussioni by Guido Facchin (pp. 357–358)
However, this is contradicted by John Beck's Encyclopedia of Percussion, which says that
Bass xylophone [is a] very low-pitched xylophone with a range of c to a' [C3 to A4]. It sounds as written and is played with large hard felt sticks. (SOURCE)
English Wikipedia agrees with Beck about the instrument's range, but indicates that it
sound[s] one octave lower than written.
Aaron
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