‖ marimba
(məˈrɪmbə)
[Congo.]
A kind of deep-toned xylophone, originating in Africa and consisting of wooden keys on a frame with a tuned resonator beneath each key. Hence, a modern orchestral instrument evolved from this. Also attrib.
| 1704 tr. Merolla's Voy. Congo i. in Churchill's Voy. I. 695 The Instrument most in request us'd by the Abundi..is the Marimba; it consists of sixteen Calabashes orderly plac'd along the middle between two side-boards join'd together, or a long frame, hanging about a Man's Neck with a Thong. 1866 Livingstone Last Jrnls. (1873) I. xii. 305 Marimbas and square drums formed the bands. 1875 Monteiro Angola II. 138 The Marimba is the musical instrument par excellence of the natives of Angola. 1923 A. H. Newbold Bamboo Curtains 27 You and I on a polished floor, And a big marimba band. 1924 S. Sitwell 13th Cæsar 58 Loud is the marimba's note Above these half-salt waves. 1927 Melody Maker Aug. 732/3 (Advt.), The Rage To-Day.—‘Foote’ Xylophones and Marimbas. 1934 A. Huxley Beyond Mexique Bay 119 The visitor of 1933 may think himself lucky if he hears a marimba orchestra discoursing tangos. 1957 Wodehouse Over Seventy iii. 42 You can dance nightly to the strains of somebody's marimba band. 1958 A. Jacobs New Dict. Mus. 226 Milhaud wrote a concerto (1947) for marimba and vibraphone. 1961 Guardian 22 May 5/5 Her company of 75 dancers, singers, and marimba players presented us with authentic reconstructions of the Aztec ritual dances. 1970 J. Blades Percussion Instruments xvi. 425 In Vision of St. Augustine Tippett writes for marimba. |