History Marimba

marimba players in africa

xylophones used in music of west , central africa. name marimba stems bantu marimba or malimba, xylophone . according western sources, word marimba formed ma many , rimba single-bar xylophone, use of term marimba and/or derivative terms not present in west african language. instrument present, called balafon or heri in mali and/or guinea, while known gyil among akan peoples in , around ghana. word marimba , derivative words used in east, central , southern africa. survey of literature on african marimba , related instruments, xylorimba, likembe , ilimba indicate relationship between word marimba , various lamellaphones found on central , east africa. other sources credit creation of marimba , kalimba queen marimba of wakambi people, live south of lake victoria. in shona language imba means song. kuimba sing. marimba, said mother of song , creator of instruments, including marimba. mama means mother in kiswahili, makes perfect sense word mother combined word imba unconjugated verb sing . karimba said have been created queen marimba. in of east & central africa karimba seen hand-held version of marimba.

marimba capitals of spanish america (1888)

diatonic xylophones introduced central america in 16th or 17th century. first historical record of mayan musicians using gourd resonator marimbas in guatemala made in 1680, historian domingo juarros. became more widespread during 18th , 19th centuries, mayan , ladino ensembles started using on festivals. in 1821, marimba proclaimed national instrument of guatemala in independence proclamation.

modern marimba

in 1850, mexican marimbist manuel bolán cruz (1810-1863), modified old bow marimba, wooden straight one, lengthening legs musicians play in standing mode, expanded keyboard , replaced gourd resonators wooden boxes.

in 1892, mexican musician corazón de jesús borras moreno, expanded marimba include chromatic scale adding row of sound bars, akin black keys on piano.

the name marimba later applied orchestra instrument inspired latin american model. in united states, companies deagan , leedy company adapted latin american instruments use in western music. metal tubes used resonators, fine-tuned rotating metal discs @ bottom; lowest note tubes u-shaped. marimbas first used light music , dance, such vaudeville theater , comedy shows. clair omar musser chief proponent of marimba in united states @ time.

french composer darius milhaud made ground-breaking introduction of marimbas western classical music in 1947 concerto marimba , vibraphone. four-mallet grip employed play chords, enhancing interest instrument. in late 20th century, modernist , contemporary composers found new ways use marimba: notable examples include leoš janáček (jenufa), carl orff (antigonae), karl amadeus hartmann, hans werner henze (elegy young lovers), pierre boulez (le marteau sans maître) , steve reich.