While reading up recently on composer Camille Saint-Saens, I came
across an interesting piece of history regarding the xylophone.

In 1874 Saint-Saens's "Danse Macabre", Op.40 No.3, was the first
serious piece of music to employ the xylophone.  At its premiere in
January 1875, it was disliked by the audience and music critics of the
day saying the xylophone suggested the clacking of dry bones just too
ridiculous.  All too much for Saint-Saens, who headed straight off for
awhile to Algiers.

It does indeed seem a curious choice of 'jolly' instrument to use,
given the title.  Liszt greatly admired the piece and transcribed it
for piano solo, though admitting that its 'marvellous colouring' could
not be reproduced.  In time this became one of Saint-Saens best known
works.  Interestingly, he recorded for the Hupfeld recording salon,
Leipzig.

Then I found a company in New York called Link Piano Co. Inc. who made
coin-operated pianos and instruments with orchestral effects.  One was
a Hiawatha self-playing xylophone, long gone now I expect.  The firm
went bankrupt in 1910.

Maybe I should find my own xylophone somewhere in the loft, but
I expect that's long gone too!

Christine Robinson