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Marimba's origin is uncertain. Some suppose they
were originated in the African continent, others believe that they
come from Southeast Asia. Nevertheless it is known that it emigrated
towards America in the 16th century, brought by African slaves.
Then it was adopted by Mexico and Guatemala people, becoming an
essential instrument in these countries' folk music. Since 1910
it started to be built and executed in the orchestal and jazz environment,
evolving constantly until present. The contemporany marimba, consists
in a series of suspended wood bars which when being strucke by mallets
produce a special kind of sounds, also the sound of these bars is
amplified by tubes of resonance properly regulated. Each bar also
is meticulous tuned in its fundamental sound and its overtones,
in order to obtain the characteristic timbre of marimbas.
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