Southeast Asian Origin

• Some musicologists believe that the xylophone is the product of the peoples of Southeast Asia, since the modern gamelang of Indonesia and the ranat of Thailand resemble the modern xylophone. Travelers documented xylophones when touring in China in the eighteenth century.
  
  

African Origin

• Other musicologists maintain that the xylophone originated in Africa and cite the current use of the amadinda, marimba and balofon, instruments all resembling the xylophone.
  
  

Orchestral Use

• The first modern use of the xylophone in a symphony orchestra dates to the mid-1870s.
  
  

Jazz Use

• Touring jazz orchestras of the 1920s and 1930s used the xylophone as a percussion instrument.
  
  

Vaudeville Use

• Vaudeville shows used the xylophone, not only as a percussion instrument, but for making sound effects for comedy routines.
  
  

Children's Toy

• Early children's toys included drums, horns and the xylophone. With the introduction of polymers, the wooden blocks were replaced with brightly colored plastics (see Resources).