Marímbula
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A marímbula (pronounced "mah-REAM-boo-lah") is a folk musical instrument of Caribbean Islands (not to be confused with a marimba). The marímbula is usually classified as part of the lamellophone family of musical instruments. With its roots in African instruments, marimbula originated in the province of Oriente, Cuba in 19th century. Eventually it spread throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. 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 (pronounced mah-REAM-boo-lah), 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 marimbola (Puerto Rico), bass kalimba (also spelled Calimba), Rhumba box (Jamaica), and "box lamellophone".
Musicologists classify it as a lamellophone. The sound of a marimbula is produced by plucking the free ends of springy plates ("tongues" or keys) attached by one end to a resonator box. In Africa it is also known as the marimba, likembe, nadimba, uboh, sansa or congoma; see mbira.
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 crates, with tongues (keys) made of springy wood, bamboo, old knife blades, all kinds of disarded springs, etc. The musician sits on top of the box reaching down to pluck the tongues. The instrument's evolution was similar to that of the cajon box drum.
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.
Unlike original African lamellophones used to produce complex polyphony and polyrhythms, the marimbula basically plays the role of a bass guitar, to provide the rhythmic and harmonic support for a band, although it can produce a simple melody as well.
They became quite popular in Jamaica in conjunction with guitars, hand drums, maracas and vocals in the churches, where it was known as "church and clap", in the 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 among mento musicians today, such as the Jolly Boys.
It is fairly easy to learn to play the marimbula, especially for those who have a grasp of some other musical instrument, since no intricate technique is involved.
Currently, the instrument is regaining popularity among hip hop artists and mbira players, like Chartwell Dutiro, The Jolly Boys and The Congotronics. Laura Barrett, a folk artist from the indie music scene in Toronto, composes most of her pieces on the kalimba and uses it as a central part of her act.
