The Marimba: The Sound of Costa Rica

By BobbyRica | April 19, 2011

Playing-the-Marimba-in-Costa-Rica

There’s something about hearing the marimba play while you’re in Costa Rica that puts you in a great mood. It somehow gives you immediate warm happy party thoughts. The marimba may be a commonplace percussion instrument in the Caribbean and South American countries. But Costa Rica seemingly has the edge in taking off your own inhibitions and leading you to you that sense spontaneity within yourself that you thought you’d lost when you were younger. It’s like an invitation to get you drunk with life.

But let me tell you, the local tico sound took its time before it grew on me. When I first came to this country, I scoffed at this rather clunky sound. As a hard rocking dude who thought true music can only be created from bass guitars and a synthesizer, I was hard pressed to take a liking to the makeshift xylophone.

It must have been the time when there were a lot of city fairs happening all around the country. As I and my equally novice friends traveled around the country, I was impressed by the sheer closeness of the people with their music. It is a part of their lives that is held dear to their hearts. The pervasiveness of the marimba presented itself as it is the instrument of choice being played in restaurants, churches, schools, and in popular media. Unlike American pop music that is rammed to our throats. The marimba charms you before you accept it. I initially thought that like the Mexico’s mariachi, it was a hollow form of culture that is only reserved to tourists. But it wasn’t. Folk music performed via marimba is not limited to tourists. The general populace really do listen to it, and the marimba continues to be a popular form of music.

Have a taste of Costa Rican marimba by checking out this amazing video. Let’s see you resist to its charm.

If you want to know more about the marimba, click here and here. You can view more Marimba performances by checking the Youtube selection of the video above.