Mid-nineteenth-century marimba made from wood, gourds, twine, native fiber, and beeswax. Although marimbas were brought to the Americas by African slaves, this instrument became a crucial part of the cultural heritage of Indigenous people in Tactic, Guatemala.
Gourd Marimba Or Indian Xylophone
- Notes
- FROM CARD: "FORMING PART OF A BAND USED IN FESTIVALS ILLUS.: P.76, PL.63, CELEBRATIONS CATALOGUE, SMITHSONIAN PRESS, 1982. 15248 LOANED TO RENWICK 7/14/81. RETURNED 1983. MARIMBA (MARIMBA DE TECOMATE), MID-19TH CENTURY. TACTIC INDIANS; GUATEMALA. WOOD, GOURDS, TWINE, NATIVE FIBER, BEESWAX. 20 X 70 X 16 (50.8 X 177.8 X 40.6) NMNH 15248, GIFT OF HENRY HAGUE. AFRICAN SLAVES BROUGHT THE IDEA OF THE GOURD MARIMBA WITH THEM TO THE NEW WORLD. GUATEMALAN INDIANS NOW ASSOCIATE THE INSTRUMENT WITH THEIR OWN ETHNIC HERITAGE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF TWO DANCES, THE DANCE OF THE DEAD AND THE DANCE OF INVITATION. IN THESE, MASKED DANCERS RE-CREATE ANCIENT TALES OF THE TRIBAL PAST. THE MARIMBA IS ALSO USED AT FESTIVE DANCES CALLED ZARABANDAS, HELD BY RELIGIOUS OFFICIALS OF THE COMMUNITY."
- Record Last Modified
- 30 Jul 2020
- Specimen Count
- 1
- Data Source
- NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
- Donor Name
- Henry Hague
- Accession Date
- 31 Oct 1875
- Unknown - Object
- 50.8 cm
- 177.8 cm
- 40.6 cm
- Object Type
- Marimba
