View source for Marímbula

{{Short description|Lamellophone from the Caribbean}}
{{Distinguish|marimba}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox instrument
| name                  = Marímbula
| names                 =
| image                 = Marimbula.png
| image_capt            = Marimbula
}}
[[File:Marimbula player.jpg|thumb|Marimbula player]]
The '''marímbula''' ({{IPA|es|maˈɾimbula}}) is a [[lamellophone|plucked box musical instrument]] of the [[Caribbean]]. In Cuba it is common in the [[changüí]] genre, as well as old styles of [[son cubano|son]]. In Mexico, where it is known as '''marimbol''' is played in [[son jarocho]]; in the [[Dominican Republic]], where it is known as '''marimba''', it is played in [[merengue típico]], and in [[Jamaica]] it is known as '''rumba box''' and played in [[mento]].

The marímbula is usually classified as part of the [[lamellophone]] family of musical instruments.
Unlike typical African lamellophones, such as the [[mbira]], used to produce complex polyphony and polyrhythms, the marimbula usually plays the role of a [[bass guitar]], i.e. providing the [[rhythm]]ic and [[harmony|harmonic]] support for a band, although it can produce a simple melody as well.

Designs of marimbulas vary greatly, in terms of the material of resonator, the number and arrangement of keys, the overall arrangement and size of the instrument and the way it is played.

==Characteristics==
It consists of a [[wood]] [[box]] with a sound hole cut in the center of it. Across this hole, a number of [[metal]] strips are attached at one end to the resonating box. These metal strips are tuned to different pitches, and are plucked to produce a [[bassline]] for the music.

==History==
With its roots in African instruments, the marimbula originated in the province of [[Oriente Province|Oriente]], [[Cuba]], in the 19th century. Eventually it spread throughout the [[Caribbean]], the [[Americas]], and [[Africa]], from [[Liberia]] to the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]]. By the 1930s it had made its way to [[Haiti]], the [[Dominican Republic]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Jamaica]], other Caribbean islands, [[Mexico]], and as far away as [[New York City]]. The Cubans call it ''marímbula'', and most of the other Caribbean countries have adopted this name or some variant of it: ''marimba'', ''malimba'', ''manimba'', ''marimbol''. The instrument has a number of other names, such as marímbola ([[Puerto Rico]]), bass box,  ''calimba'' (''calymba''), rhumba box, Church & Clap,  Jazz Jim or Lazy Bass ([[Jamaica]]), and box lamellophone.

:{{audio|Kalimba.ogg|Sound of a marímbula being played}}

African slaves of the Caribbean made musical instruments from whatever stray material they could lay their hands on. Early marimbulas were made from discarded wooden [[packing crate]]s, with tongues (keys) made of springy wood, bamboo, old hack-saw blades, all kinds of discarded springs, etc. The musician sits on top of the box reaching down to pluck the tongues whilst slapping the sides of the box like a drum. The instrument's evolution and playing style is similar to the [[cajon]] box drum.

This instrument was very important in the development of Afro-Cuban music as it was one of the basic instruments played by [[changüí]]  musicians. Both changüí and [[Son (music)|son]] genres developed as a result of the combination of African and Spanish musical styles and instrumentation. Thus, changüí musicians still play a pair of [[tack-head bongo]]s, marímbula, a pair of [[maraca]]s, [[güiro]], and [[Tres (musical instrument)|tres]] to accompany the voice of the vocalist and chorus. Most of the above-mentioned instruments are handmade folk instruments, made from locally available materials, as opposed to commercially produced instruments. The oldest surviving recordings of the marímbula in Cuba were made by [[Terceto Yoyo]] and [[Sexteto Habanero]] in 1925.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Shepherd|editor1-first=John|editor2-last=Horn|editor2-first=David|title=Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World: Volume II – Performance and Production|date=2003|publisher=Continuum|location=London, UK|page=390|isbn=9780826463227|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pJvzEzjahkQC&pg=PA390}}</ref>

This was one of the many instruments imported from the Americas to Africa, which continue to be played to this day, in various forms and styles, particularly in the countries of [[Sierra Leone]], [[Liberia]], [[Guinea]], [[Ghana]] and [[Nigeria]].

The marímbula became quite popular in Jamaica in conjunction with [[guitar]]s, [[Drum kit|drums]], maracas, and vocals in the churches, where it was known as church and clap, in nightclubs where it was known as jazz jim, and among the various hotel performers, who played [[mento]] music. It can still be found in use by mento musicians such as [[The Jolly Boys]].{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

Currently, the instrument is regaining popularity among [[hip hop music|hip hop]] artists and ''[[mbira]]'' players, like [[Chartwell Dutiro]] and The Jolly Boys.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}

==See also==
*[[Prempensua]], a similar instrument used in the [[music of Ghana]]
*[[Oopoochawa]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->

* {{cite book
| first=Arturo | last=Chamorro
| title = Los Instrumentos De Percusión En México
| year = 1984
| publisher = México: Colegio de Michoacán
| isbn = 978-968-7230-02-3
}}
* {{cite book
| author=INAH
| author-link=INAH
| title = Atlas Cultural de México. Música.
| year = 1988
| publisher = México: Grupo Editorial Planeta 
| isbn = 968-406-121-8
}}

==External links==
*[http://marimbula.com/ Photos of marimbulas]
*[http://cloudninemusical.com/Pages/MarimbulasEssay.html The story of the marimbula]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150216162644/http://jbhpercussion.com/Standard.aspx Modern marimbula workshop]
*[http://salsablanca.com/ethno/marimbula Another page on the marimbula with examples]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RtWHHG0IDE&feature=PlayList&p=62560C6177F7C04C&index=12 Video of Cuban musicians playing Changui]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Marimbula}}
[[Category:Comb lamellophones]]
[[Category:Cuban musical instruments]]
[[Category:Haitian musical instruments]]
[[Category:Dominican Republic musical instruments]]
[[Category:Mexican musical instruments]]
[[Category:Contrabass instruments]]
[[Category:Central American and Caribbean percussion instruments]]
[[Category:Jarocho]]