Marimba
A pitched percussion instrument with wooden bars struck by mallets. Resonators beneath the bars amplify their sound and shape its tone.
Resonator: A device or cavity that reinforces selected frequencies of vibration. Tubes beneath the bars reinforce their pitches and help project the marimba’s sound.
Percussion instrument: A musical instrument sounded by striking, shaking, scraping, or otherwise agitating it. The marimba produces notes when mallets strike its bars.
Marimba of Guatemala: A family of Guatemalan marimba traditions, including large ensembles and a national emblematic instrument. Guatemala’s marimba culture developed distinctive ensembles and became central to national identity.
Marimba ensemble: A group performance using multiple marimbas, often with instruments of different ranges. Multiple players combine marimbas to cover broad registers and create interlocking parts.
Balafon: A West African keyed percussion instrument with wooden bars and resonators, often made from gourds. Its construction resembles some marimbas, while its musical traditions and playing contexts differ.
Musical tuning: The adjustment of a musical instrument so its pitches match a chosen tuning system. Carving the bars’ undersides adjusts their pitch by changing how they vibrate.
Idiophone: A musical instrument whose vibrating body itself produces sound. The marimba’s wooden bars vibrate directly rather than exciting a stretched membrane or string.
Marimba of Chiapas: A regional Mexican marimba tradition associated especially with the state of Chiapas. Chiapas preserves a prominent regional tradition shaped by local ensembles and dance music.
Marimba concerto: A concerto in which a marimba soloist performs with an orchestra or other large ensemble. Concertos place the marimba’s range and timbral contrasts in dialogue with an ensemble.
Concert marimba: A modern concert instrument with a chromatic layout, extended range, and adjustable-height frame. This standardized form differs from many regional marimbas in layout, range, and performance design.