Marimba
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The Marimba is a keyboard percussion instrument, made out of large wooden keys, suspended above metal resonating tubes. The keys are struck with yarn-covered mallets, the firmness of which changes both the timbre and volume of the sound.
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Types
There are three common types of Marimba.
The standard Marimba has a 4-octave range, centered on middle C (although usually only going down to a D natural, for some reason). It is usually notated on treble clef, and an octave-transposing treble clef is preferable to bass or other clefs (as most mallet percussionists only fluently read treble clef).
The Grand Marimba has an even larger range, with another octave on either side of the standard Marimba's range. It is notated on a grand staff similar to a piano or harp.
The Bass Marimba has only a two-octave range, starting from the third G below middle C through to the A below middle C. It also often uses cavity resonators rather than tubes, due to the required tube size for such a low instrument.
Playing Technique
Standard/beginner players will use a mallet in each hand, which they use to either play two notes at once or to allow greater flexibility with fast melodies.
More advanced players can use two (and very rarely three) mallets in each hand, allowing for four (or six) concurrent notes. Ideally, the intervals between the two mallets in one hand should be kept constant, as this makes playing a lot easier. It is also much simpler to do this if you are playing only the "white keys" or just the "black keys".
Ornaments/articulations
Tremolo is common on the instrument, played using both the mallets on one key. It is also possible if using several mallets per hand, although this is trickier, and works best if done with time to get into position. Single hand tremolos are for more advanced players.
Trills are easiest if they are whole-tone, or where the left hand is a "white key" and the right hand is a "black key". They can be done reasonably quickly, and even using two-mallet technique, and can be done with little preparation time.
Turns and mordents (both upper and lower) are easiest to do with both hands, although upper mordents (for left hand) and lower mordents (for right hand) can be done with two mallets in one hand (if the rest of the line is single-mallet).
Writing Considerations
Using hard mallets in the low range results in a very loud and hard sound, and a tinny sound up high. Using soft mallets up high leads to an almost inaudible sound, but a very mellow sound in the low register. A marimba player will usually have at least hard, soft, and medium mallets at his disposal (although often only two of each). It's possible to use different mallets in each hand, or two different mallets in the same hand (if using two-mallet technique).
The low notes have quite a long sustain, so fast sections in the bottom register can come out muddy. Stopping the keys from vibrating is not easy, can not be done quickly, and requires reaching both below the instrument to the resonators as well as the keys. It is not recommended to be asked for.
See Also
| Instruments and Voices | |
|---|---|
| Woodwinds | Flutes • Recorders • Oboes • Bassoons • Clarinets • Saxophones • Bagpipes |
| Brass | Horn • Cornets • Trumpets • Trombones • Euphonium • Tubas • Saxhorns |
| Keyboards | Piano • Organ • Harmonium • Harpsichord • Clavichord • Celesta • Accordion |
| Percussion | Snare drum • Tom-toms • Bass drum • Cymbals • Gongs • Shakers • Drumset
Glockenspiel • Chimes • Vibraphone • Xylophone • Marimba • Timpani • Musical saw |
| Electronic | Theremin • Ondes Martenot • Synthesizer • Electronic Wind Instrument |
| Stringed | Harp • Violin • Viola • Violoncello • Contrabass • Guitar • Mandolins • Violin octet |
| Voices | Soprano • Mezzo-soprano (often mistaken with Alto) • Contralto (often mistaken with Alto)
Countertenor • Tenor • Baritone • Bass-baritone • Bass |