The Orchestral Marimba has wooden bars, like the xylophone, which are struck with hammers. The bars are arranged in the same way as the white and black notes on a piano keyboard. The orchestral marimba was developed from Latin American models, and is used in orchestras and bands.
Family |
Percussions |
Pitch range |
Up to four octaves. |
Material |
Wooden bars with metal resonators. |
Size |
The orchestral marimba is 6 ft (1.80 m) wide and 3 ft (90 cm) high. |
Origins |
The marimba was introduced to Latin America by slaves from Africa. |
Classification |
Idiophone: an instrument that produces its sound through the use of the material from which it is made, without needing strings or a stretched skin. |
And also... |
Marimba is a name derived from the African Bantu word "rimba," meaning "flat object sticking out." |