Mexican Mexican Marimba BandsMarimba Bands

vs. vs.

Paul CrestonPaul CrestonMusical Comparison By: Musical Comparison By:

Joshua FrankJoshua Frank

RegionRegion The central American marimba has The central American marimba has

spread through ought Guatemala, spread through ought Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Costa Rica.

Primary location for popular Mexican Primary location for popular Mexican marimba music is marimba music is Chiapas, MexicoChiapas, Mexico..

(state symbol of Chiapas)

Chiapas, Mexico Chiapas, Mexico (Demographics)(Demographics)

Size:Size: 73,289 km73,289 km22 (28,297 sq mi). (28,297 sq mi). Population:Population: 4,293,459 (2005).4,293,459 (2005). Ethnicities:Ethnicities: 55% Mestizo, 40% indigenous (Mayan 55% Mestizo, 40% indigenous (Mayan

descent), 5% other.descent), 5% other. Religion:Religion: practice either Catholicism or other faiths practice either Catholicism or other faiths

introduced through vast immigration, very diverse area.introduced through vast immigration, very diverse area. Poor and undeveloped economy, its population consists Poor and undeveloped economy, its population consists

mostly of rural farmers.mostly of rural farmers. Southern most state of Mexico, most likely influenced Southern most state of Mexico, most likely influenced

by neighboring central American countries.by neighboring central American countries.

Marimba Bands Marimba Bands of Mexicoof Mexico

This music is performed by small ensembles on This music is performed by small ensembles on the streets and establishments of Mexico. the streets and establishments of Mexico.

May feature additional instruments, but for the May feature additional instruments, but for the most part consists solely of multiple performers most part consists solely of multiple performers on one or more marimbas. on one or more marimbas.

Tourists usually associate the sound of these Tourists usually associate the sound of these musicians as poolside vacation music, but musicians as poolside vacation music, but marimba bands can vary in both appearance and marimba bands can vary in both appearance and performance image.performance image.

MarimbaMarimba The Mexican marimbas used by The Mexican marimbas used by

these bands are usually 4-5 these bands are usually 4-5 octaves of carved wooden keys octaves of carved wooden keys secured over hanging secured over hanging resonators. resonators.

Both keys and resonators vary Both keys and resonators vary in size, coinciding with their in size, coinciding with their distinct pitch (lower distinct pitch (lower pitches=bigger keys/resonators, pitches=bigger keys/resonators, higher pitches=smaller higher pitches=smaller keys/resonators).keys/resonators).

Performers play on keys with Performers play on keys with mallets, holding up to as many mallets, holding up to as many as 3 in each hand.as 3 in each hand.

Additional InstrumentsAdditional Instruments

Guitar and BassGuitar and Bass– Both acoustic and electric, 4-6 string.Both acoustic and electric, 4-6 string.

Steel DrumsSteel Drums– Big metal containers hammered Big metal containers hammered

inward/outward to produce a range of inward/outward to produce a range of voices from soprano to bass.voices from soprano to bass.

PercussionPercussion– Small acoustic hand drums (congas, Small acoustic hand drums (congas,

cajon, etc.), shakers, bells, rarely features cajon, etc.), shakers, bells, rarely features actual drum set. actual drum set.

(maracas

)

(cajon

)

(cow bell)

(congas)

(steel drum)

(aco

ust

ic

guit

ar)

(marimba)

Mexican Marimba MusicMexican Marimba Music

In contrast to the more casual street In contrast to the more casual street performed music, this is a professionally performed music, this is a professionally recorded piece.recorded piece.

““Jugo de Piña” (“Pineapple Juice”) Jugo de Piña” (“Pineapple Juice”) performed by La Marimba Orquesta de performed by La Marimba Orquesta de Chiapas.Chiapas.

Featuring harmonized marimba melody over Featuring harmonized marimba melody over additional instruments traditionally played additional instruments traditionally played in marimba bands.in marimba bands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p1Y_WOGNaw&feature=related

Paul CrestonPaul Creston

Born October 10, 1906 in New York City as an Italian Born October 10, 1906 in New York City as an Italian American growing up in urban America.American growing up in urban America.

Birth name was Birth name was Giuseppe Guttoveggio, but changed to Paul Creston once he entered the world of composing.

Died August 24, 1985 in San Diego, CA after his poor August 24, 1985 in San Diego, CA after his poor recovery from surgery dealing with a malignant tumor.recovery from surgery dealing with a malignant tumor.

BiographyBiography Lived in a poor household of Italian immigrants, Lived in a poor household of Italian immigrants,

occasionally visiting Sicily with his mother.occasionally visiting Sicily with his mother. Creston took and surpassed elementary music Creston took and surpassed elementary music

lessons as a child, but was forced to drop out of lessons as a child, but was forced to drop out of school all together at age 15 to help support his school all together at age 15 to help support his family. family.

Eventually found work as a church organist, Eventually found work as a church organist, allowing him to create and publish his allowing him to create and publish his work ““Seven Theses” with the help of future advocate Henry future advocate Henry Cowell.Cowell.

Accepted a teaching position at Cummington Accepted a teaching position at Cummington School of the Arts in Massachusetts, launching his School of the Arts in Massachusetts, launching his popularity in the music community. popularity in the music community.

Finding success as a great American composer, Finding success as a great American composer, Creston wrote music for television shows and Creston wrote music for television shows and approximately 121 original compositions.approximately 121 original compositions.

““Concertino for Marimba”Concertino for Marimba” Completed and dedicated to Completed and dedicated to

Frederique Petrides, Frederique Petrides, conductor of the Orchestrette conductor of the Orchestrette Classique, in March of 1940. Classique, in March of 1940.

Written in 3 movements; Written in 3 movements; Vigorous, Calm, Lively. Vigorous, Calm, Lively.

Using meters such as 4/4, 3/4, Using meters such as 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8. and 6/8.

This piece revolutionized the This piece revolutionized the use of percussive instruments use of percussive instruments in classical musical.in classical musical.

For the first time, percussion For the first time, percussion carried the main melody.carried the main melody.

CompositionComposition Comparison will focus on “Vigorous”, the first Comparison will focus on “Vigorous”, the first

movement of Creston’s composition. movement of Creston’s composition. The piece revolves around a soloing marimba The piece revolves around a soloing marimba

with transitions (usually done by an orchestra) with transitions (usually done by an orchestra) featuring a rhythm piano part.featuring a rhythm piano part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fyY3bn0Ur8

Musical ComparisonMusical Comparison ““Jugo de Piña” Jugo de Piña”

– constant flowing rhythm constant flowing rhythm – percussion to drive tempo, 4/4 meterpercussion to drive tempo, 4/4 meter– harmonized consecutive melodiesharmonized consecutive melodies– more simplistic scales and theorymore simplistic scales and theory

““Concertino For Marimba”Concertino For Marimba”– sudden phrase changessudden phrase changes– 3/4 meter3/4 meter– solo melodysolo melody– complex scales and theory complex scales and theory

SimilaritiesSimilarities– marimba medium marimba medium – rolling sustainsrolling sustains– rhythms on the upbeatrhythms on the upbeat– feature both melody and lead voicefeature both melody and lead voice

Works CitedWorks Cited http://open.salon.com/blog/berrycomposer/2009/10/02/

classical_music_review_american_composer_paul_creston

http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2419&State_2872=2&ComposerId_2872=301

http://www.travelchiapas.com/about/about-1.phphttp://www.travelchiapas.com/about/about-1.php http://arenagrouponline.com/pages/entertainment/http://arenagrouponline.com/pages/entertainment/

available_entertainment.htmlavailable_entertainment.html http://www.steeldrumisland.com/steeldrums/http://www.steeldrumisland.com/steeldrums/ http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?

TabId=2420&State_2874=2&workId_2874=27060TabId=2420&State_2874=2&workId_2874=27060 http://www.naxos.com/person/Paul_Creston/22406.htmhttp://www.naxos.com/person/Paul_Creston/22406.htm http://library.umkc.edu/spec-col-collections/crestonhttp://library.umkc.edu/spec-col-collections/creston