In the 1980s professional percussionists from the two major New York City orchestras listened to almost 40 different head types. Four 1-1/8 models, OR39 (brown), OR42 (tan), OR45 (white) and OR48 (black) were selected as having the most frequent application to the major orchestral keyboard parts of the late 19th and 20th centuries. They are still found in the mallet bags of many professional percussionists.
Today there is a demand for models targeted for very specific excerpts, as well as a movement toward lighter, smaller heads for certain applications. There is no greater expert on orchestral keyboard repertoire than William James, principal percussionist of the St. Louis Symphony. Will has expanded the original OR line into a vast selection of sounds and tone colors, with many different materials, weights, sizes and handle types. Of course our new orchestral rosewood mallets are made from the same genuine Honduran Rosewood as our marimba and xylophone bars (no imitations!).
OR28R
- 1" Opaque Ball
- 7.5 mm rattan
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A light, yet warm, mallet for soft passages, with more articulation than rubber.  Suggested Rep: Firebird, Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance
OR33R
- 1" Blue Ball
- 7.5 mm rattan
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A terrific all-purpose light mallet with enough articulation to be clear without extra weight.
- Suggested Rep: Pops Hoe Down, Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Porgy and Bess, Schuman’s 3rd Symphony, Háry János, Petrouchka
OR35R
- 1" Grey Ball
- 7.5 mm rattan
- A fabulous mallet for the top tessitura of the xylophone. Plenty of articulation for loud passages but without excess weight.
- Suggested Rep: Kammermusik, Pops Hoe Down, Schuman Symphony No. 3
OR37R
- 1" Yellow Ball
- 7.5 mm rattan
- A light, articulate mallet for pointed repertoire. All the hardness without all the heaviness.
- Suggested Rep: Kammermusik, American in Paris, Salome
OR39B
- 1 1/8" Brown Ball
- 8.8 mm birch
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Our “Gold Standard†for xylophone, probably the most popular orchestral xylophone mallet. Incredibley versatile and appropriate for virtually any loud repertoire.
- Suggested Rep: Colas Breugnon Overture, Porgy and Bess, Salome
OR39R
- 1 1/8" Brown Ball
- 8.8 mm rattan
-
Our “Gold Standard†for xylophone, probably the most popular orchestral xylophone mallet. Incredibley versatile and appropriate for virtually any loud repertoire.
- Suggested Rep: Colas Breugnon Overture, Porgy and Bess, Salome
OR42B
- 1 1/8" Tan Ball
- 8.5 mm birch
- A classic mallet for the loudest xylophone repertoire. A full sound for both live orchestra or audition situations.
- Suggested Rep: Appalachian Spring, Shostakovich Symphonies and Concertos
OR42R
- 1 1/8" Tan Ball
- 8.5 mm rattan
- A classic mallet for the loudest xylophone repertoire. A full sound for both live orchestra or audition situations.
- Suggested Rep: Appalachian Spring, Shostakovich Symphonies and Concertos
OR45B
- 1 1/8" White ball
- 8.5 mm birch
- A great all-purpose mallet that may be used on xylophone, glock & multi-percussion.
- Suggested Rep: Shostakovich Symphonies and Concertos
OR45R
- 1 1/8" White ball
- 8.5 mm rattan
- A great all-purpose mallet that may be used on xylophone, glock & multi-percussion.
- Suggested Rep: Shostakovich Symphonies and Concertos
OR48B
- 1 1/8" Black Ball
- 8.5 mm birch
- The hardest xylophone mallet we make! Excellent for xylophone, glockenspiel and multi-percussion situations.
OR48R
- 1 1/8" Black Ball
- 8.5 mm rattan
- The hardest xylophone mallet we make! Excellent for xylophone, glockenspiel and multi-percussion situations.
