Overview
Articles
Performers
Manufacturers and Retailers

Overview

The marimba is a musical instrument similar to the xylophone in appearance. It makes a beautiful sound that I think sounds a little like a cross between a piano and a harp.

The marimba is most commonly played in a larger ensemble, such as an orchestra or percussion group, but increasingly it's being played as a solo instrument. Some music has been composed and/or arranged specifically for the marimba, and you can also play pieces written for other instruments (especially piano, violin, and trumpet) on it.

The marimba can be traced all the way back to Africa (hollow logs over holes in the ground), but the modern marimba shape and style actually came from Latin America. The bars on most marimbas today are made either from rare tropical woods like rosewood, or else synethetic materials like Kelon. The resonators are typically metal (aluminum or brass) and extend beneath the bars.

Marimbas often cover a 5-octave range, although smaller marimbas are available in graduated sizes all the way down to 4 octaves. A new 5-octave marimba can go for around $10K; 4-octave ones for around $3K. And of course you can buy them second-hand for all sorts of prices. Rosewood marimbas tend to be favored by the pros, although synthetic marimbas (and cheaper woods like padouk) tend to be cheaper and require less maintenance.

Marimbas are played with mallets made specially for the purpose, usually holding one or two mallets in each hand (for a total of two or four). Most commonly these mallets have wood handles (commonly birch or rattan) with a rubber disk attached at one end and wrapped in yarn. Some mallets use acrylic or latex heads without yarn (although most of these are for xylophones instead, being too hard for marimbas).

I own a 4.3 octave Classic Grand Marimba from Ludwig-Musser and someday I hope to upgrade to a 5 octave marimba. My favorite mallets are Nancy Zeltman's line from Encore Mallets. I find that a lot of music written specifically for the marimba tends to be overly modern or percussive; personally, I favor more melodic and traditional pieces, especially arrangements of baroque or jazz such as Bach or Brubeck.

With a family, demanding job, and many hobbies, I don't get nearly enough time to practice, so I hesitate to say I have any kind of "repertoire". However, some of the songs I've been playing lately include:

  1. Moonlight Sonata (Beethoven, Op. 27, No. 2)
  2. Nocturne in C Minor (Chopin, posthumous)
  3. various Bach Sonatas and Fugues

Articles about the Marimba

Select Marimba Performers

Select Marimba Manufacturers and Retailers