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Marimba Contecomates

The document describes the Guatemalan marimba con tecomates, an instrument with elongated calabash gourd resonators, tuned to a seven-note diatonic scale with 26 bars. It highlights the traditional construction methods, including the use of hemp binding and buzzing membranes made from animal intestines. The marimba's craftsmanship is noted for its simplicity and ingenuity, dating back to around 1925.

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5 views1 page

Marimba Contecomates

The document describes the Guatemalan marimba con tecomates, an instrument with elongated calabash gourd resonators, tuned to a seven-note diatonic scale with 26 bars. It highlights the traditional construction methods, including the use of hemp binding and buzzing membranes made from animal intestines. The marimba's craftsmanship is noted for its simplicity and ingenuity, dating back to around 1925.

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FROM THE PAS MUSEUM COLLECTION

MARIMBA CON TECOMATES


Donated by Emil Richards

The Guatemalan marimba most like the instrument brought to the New World from Africa is the Guatemalan Indian marimba with gourd
resonators, the marimba con tecomates. For the resonators, the makers of these instruments prefer the elongated calabash gourd rather
than the round jícara gourd more typically found on African marimbas.
This instrument is tuned to a seven-note diatonic scale of approximately equal intervals, with 26 total bars. Like all Guatemalan
marimbas, the gourd marimbas are made entirely of wood that is strung together with hemp binding. Each resonator has a vibrating or
buzzing membrane called a tela, which is made of pig or monkey intestine and attached near the bottom with a circle of beeswax. The
bars are strung by passing hemp cord through two holes bored vertically about an inch apart. In contrast to the more modern system of
passing a cord through the sides of the bars, this method of stringing dates this instrument to about 1925.
To some, this instrument may appear unfinished. To others, it represents a level of native craftsmanship that is quite appealing in its
simplicity and ingenuity.

Close up showing the bars suspended by hemp cord strung Close up of the gourd resonators showing the buzzing tela
through two vertical holes. and circles of beeswax.

PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY MUSEUM • 701 NW Ferris Avenue • Lawton, Oklahoma • Phone: (580) 353-1455 • MUSEUM HOURS: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday, 1–4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays

PERCUSSIVE NOTES 112 OCTOBER 2001

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