Edited for December Moonlight by Carolyn Howard
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The bells belong to the class of instruments of percussion with a definite sonorousness, and are of various forms and kinds, according to the use to which they are put. Bells are scored for either to mark the rhythm and add brightness and piquancy to music, or for the purpose of imitating church or other bells. It is with the former that we are chiefly concerned here, and for them the word bell is generally a misnomer, other shapes of metal or wood having been found more convenient. The term Glockenspiel is understood to mean a set or frame of bells that can be easily played by one performer by means of steel hammers.
Construction
The pyramid-shaped Glockenspiel consists of an octave of semitone hemispherical bells, placed on above the other and fastened to an iron rod which passes through the center of each. They gradually become smaller as the pitch rises, which gives the instrument the shape of an elongated pyramid.
The lyre-shaped Glockenspiel – a newer model which has now replaced the pyramid shape – has instead of bells twelve or more bars of steel graduating in size according to their pitch. These are fastened to bars of steel which follow the same direction as the string in a lyre and are set perpendicularly in a steel frame in the shape of a lyre. This Glockenspiel is played by means of little steel hammers attached to whalebone sticks.
The quality of tone of the Glockenspiel is penetrating, clear and sparkling.
Source: Hofmann, Richard. "Modern Instruments" Modern Music and Musicians. Ed. Louis C. Elson. The University Society, Inc.: New York, 1918. 229-230.
The above information is useful for today's musician. This book is in the Public Domain.