glockenspiel

noun

glock·​en·​spiel ˈglä-kən-ˌshpēl How to pronounce glockenspiel (audio)
-ˌspēl
: a percussion instrument consisting of a series of graduated metal bars tuned to the chromatic scale and played with two hammers

Illustration of glockenspiel

Illustration of glockenspiel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Instrumentally, the original drum beat from YouTube was spiced up with guitar, snares and a glockenspiel, giving the song a shimmery effect. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 15 Dec. 2021 But the building might be best known for its glockenspiel, a 49-foot tower featuring wood carvings of local community members that plays recorded music four times a day. Michael Russell, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2020 Music, perhaps counterintuitively, was vital to the silent film, and the team worked early on with the composer Wolfgang Zeller, who made sound effects with flute notes and a glockenspiel. Devi Lockwood, New York Times, 18 Oct. 2019 Where else is one likely to encounter music of contemporary composer-pianist Missy Mazzoli, soprano Lisa Bielawa and MacArthur Fellows Vijay Iyer (piano) and Tyshawn Sorey (glockenspiel) in a single project? Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 27 Nov. 2019 Much of the accompaniment is glockenspiel and piano, along with a children's choir that joins in with Peppa and her friends. Joshua Bote, USA TODAY, 19 July 2019 The producers use various libraries of samples and the glockenspiel is one of those samples. Nicole Pajer, Billboard, 13 Apr. 2018 That same playfulness emerged through frequent instrument swapping throughout the two-hour set — Chassagne for one played keytar and drums and glockenspiel and wine bottles with spoons. Piet Levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 July 2018 This prodigious, impeccably maintained contraption has all the bells, whistles, horns and glockenspiels of the traditional organ — and it's painted in all the lysergic colors of the Day-Glo rainbow. David Kipen, latimes.com, 18 Apr. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glockenspiel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

German, from Glocke bell + Spiel play

First Known Use

circa 1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of glockenspiel was circa 1825

Dictionary Entries Near glockenspiel

Cite this Entry

“Glockenspiel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glockenspiel. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Kids Definition

glockenspiel

noun
glock·​en·​spiel ˈgläk-ən-ˌshpēl How to pronounce glockenspiel (audio)
-ˌspēl
: a portable musical instrument consisting of a series of metal bars played with two hammers

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