There is nothing like the sound of the Marimba, and whilst its origins are in Africa it’s presence in Guatemala has such importance to the population that it was declared the National instrument in 1978. For many of us though the closest we’ve gotten to Guatemalan marimba music is the Baja Marimba Band, those cheeky faux south of the border tricksters who specialised in wacky marimba covers of popular songs during the 70′ Herb Alpert inspired Tijuana bachelor pad craze . Yet the instrument is very much entwined into Guatemalan culture, with institutions such as Police, Army and government ministries having their own marimba bands during the 1930′ and later marimba dance bands crisscrossing the country, playing festivals and social occasions. Forget Roy Ayers or Lionel Hampton, Chapinlandia consists of two marimba’, with four people on the marimba grande, and three on the marimba tenor, with each person having a specific role not only in frequency, yet also in proving either bass, melody or various rhythms. They also have a string bass which reinforces the marimba bass, percussion (either kit or hand) and occasionally brass or woodwind. This is instrumental music influenced by western styles, by waltzes and foxtrots, yet also by Guatemalan blues, by indigenous folk music, bolero, and dance music. Yet it’s also a dying form as it’s gradually falling out of favour, the young people wanting their 50 cent and P Diddy and not interested in becoming a marimba virtuoso. Not unexpectedly this disc is an onslaught of marimba, with the instrument front and centre, more often than not to the exclusion of everything else. Yet it’s such a beautiful rich tonal instrument that it never becomes difficult going, and gradually you begin to marvel not only at the intricacies of the music yet also the diversity. At times there’ a certain jaunty lightness to the music, others a sad weariness, demonstrating the range of styles that the virtuosic Chapinlandia tackle with ease.
Bob Baker Fish
