Which instrument in this set sounds two octaves higher than written?

• A. Xylophone
• B. English horn
• C. Horn in F
• D. Glockenspiel

Answer: (D)

Pitches are not always heard at the same place they’re written. The glockenspiel is designed to sound two octaves higher than what is written. That means if you see a note on the page, the player actually hears a note two octaves higher when the bars are struck. This keeps the music readable on the treble staff while the instrument produces very bright, high tones.

For example, a written middle C on the glockenspiel would sound as C two octaves up (around C6). The xylophone, English horn, and horn in F all transpose differently: the horn and English horn sound a fifth lower than written, and the xylophone is typically not transposed by octaves in the same way. Therefore, the glockenspiel is the instrument that sounds two octaves higher than written.