The marimba is a musical percussion instrument with a rich history that spans continents and cultures.
Although its exact origin is debated, it is believed that the marimba has its roots in Africa and was developed by different African cultures such as the Bantu and the Marimberos.
The term “marimba” comes from the Bantu “marimba” or “malimba”, meaning “single bar xylophone”.
In America, historical records indicate that diatonic xylophones, precursors of the modern marimba, were introduced in Central America between the XVI and XVII centuries.
The first known marimba in America dates from 1545 in the Santa Lucia hacienda, in the municipality of Jiquipilas, Chiapas, Mexico. In Guatemala, historian Domingo Juarros documented in 1680 the use of marimbas with gourd resonators by Mayan musicians.
Throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, the marimba spread throughout most of the Americas and became a typical element of Mayan and Ladino ensembles.
Today, the marimba is considered a patriotic symbol of Guatemala and Costa Rica, and its music, along with the traditional songs and dances of Colombia’s South Pacific region and Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province, was inscribed in 2010 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The modern marimba, like the one seen in the image provided, consists of a series of wooden slats of different sizes, arranged from largest to smallest, each with a different sound pitch.
They are struck with mallets to produce musical notes, and each key has its own soundboard.
The development of the modern chromatic marimba was established in Chiapas, Mexico, around 1890.
This instrument has been integrated into a variety of musical genres, from traditional Latin American music to academic concerts, jazz and martial bands.
The marimba remains a vital instrument that celebrates the cultural heritage and musical creativity of the regions where it is loved and played.
Image of a musical duet between a guitarist and a marimba player dated Guanacaste, 1888.
Learning about the materials and components of the marimba, being aware of the playing techniques and learning about the existing varieties helps to broaden cultural knowledge and to discover a wonderful universe of particular sounds.
It is enriching to know, among other things, that a series of woods of multiple sizes arranged from longest to shortest are essential to assemble the keyboard. For the soundboard, on the other hand, it is necessary to work on the tuning so that each wood of this structure is in tune with each key.
As for playing procedures, the four-stick technique and the art of glissando appear as alternatives to keep in mind. Of course, the most advisable thing to do is to attend a marimba workshop in order to master the techniques correctly.
Nor should we forget that, since ancient times, many types of marimbas have been made and used and have contributed their characteristic sounds to multiple musical genres and styles.
Thanks to those who dare to experiment with instruments and musical compositions without being conditioned by prejudices, for example, the folk marimba and the midi marimba can coexist in harmony, to cite two specific cases.
