Which instrument is notated to sound two octaves higher than written?

• A. Xylophone
• B. English horn
• C. Trombone
• D. Glockenspiel

Answer: (D)

This item tests understanding of how some pitched instruments are transposed in notation. The glockenspiel is written two octaves lower than it sounds, so the pitch you read on the page is two octaves lower than the actual sounding pitch. That means when you strike a bar, the note you hear is two octaves higher than the written note. This notation choice helps keep the part readable on the staff while conveying the true high pitch of the instrument.

The other options don’t use that same two-octave transposition: the English horn sounds a perfect fifth lower than written, the trombone sounds at concert pitch (same as written), and the xylophone’s transposition is different and not two octaves higher.