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| Shown here is percussion professor Jim Faraday with students Liz Kilpatrick, Mark Morton, Craig Jennex, Ryan Gray and Ben Duinker. Ben, a third year music student, will perform along with guest composer and percussionist Mark Duggan, and alumna Kristie Ibrahim in a concert celebrating the new marimba on Jan. 23. (Abriel Photo) |
The Dalhousie Music Department starts the new year off with a bang as it presents "Marimba Madness" an evening celebrating the department's fabulous new five and a half octave Yamaha Marimba. The concert takes place on Monday, January 23 at 8:00 pm in the Sir James Dunn Theatre, Dalhousie Arts Centre and features the Dalhousie Percussion Ensemble as well as solo performances by special guest composer and percussionist Mark Duggan, alumna Kristie Ibrahim, and senior student Ben Duinker.
In the myth of the Zulus of South Africa, there is a tale about a goddess called "Marimba" who made an instrument by hanging gourds below wooden bars. Marimba was brought to South America in the early 16th century by the Africans who were taken there as slaves. There, a Guatemalan called Sebastian Hurtado made a Marimba with a wooden resonator pipe instead of gourd. This formed the basis of the modern marimba. The modern Marimba is used as an orchestral and a solo instrument.
Dalhousie is one of only two universities across the country to have acquired the five and a half octave marimba is onoctave marimba. The instrument is exceptional due to its design which makes it an extremely versatile instrument. Visually impressive and sonically smooth, this instrument must be both seen and heard to be fully appreciated.