Marimba in Costa Rica

Marimba, a national symbol of Costa Rica! On recent visit to one of our tourist spots, we were entertained by the great and talent artists; Salvatierra & Walker.


The marimba (/məˈrɪmbə/) is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with mallets to produce musical tones. Resonators suspended underneath the bars amplify their sound. The bars are arranged like the keys of a piano, with the groups of 2 and 3 accidentals raised vertically, overlapping the natural bars to aid the performer both visually and physically. This instrument is a type of idiophone, but with a more resonant and lower-pitched tessitura than the xylophone.

The marimba was developed in Central America by African slaves, and descended from its ancestral balafon instrument, which was also built by African slaves. Marimba is now the national instrument of Guatemala.

Modern uses of the marimba include solo performances, woodwind and brass ensembles, marimba concertos, jazz ensembles, marching band (front ensembles), drum and bugle corps, and orchestral compositions. Contemporary composers have used the unique sound of the marimba more and more in recent years. (See more from Wikipedia)

Costa Rica in 25 Seconds

Here is a sample of what is to come in this blog! Get ready as we take you to the most exotic locations in Costa Rica. Get your dose of the culture and lifestyle from the country, hosted by, Massi Devoto.

Pura Vida!