This is a tiny key-board instrument, quite distinct from • the Celesta. The sound-producing medium is a series of steel tuningforks of graduated size, which are struck by hammers. Dampers are provided for all the notes, and a pedal controls the whole series of dampers. There is a modified Pianoforte-action similar to that of the Celesta.
The instrument is made in three sizes, and these have chromatie compasses as follows :
The Dulcitone has a pleasantly sweet tone, bell-like, but not very powerful. It keeps its sostenuto fairly evenly right up to the top of its compass. At times it gives one the impression that its sounds are an octave below their actual pitch. A similar illusion is often produced by the bottom note of the Flute. The student should read what is said on that topic below,? as the explanation is probably the same in both cases.
The Dulcitone is written for either at its actual pitch or one octave lower, on two bracketed staves. The treble- and bass-clefs are used at discretion. Vincent d'indy has a part for this instrument under its Continental name of "Typophone") in his Chant de la Cloche
Playable Books