Instruments
Marimba
"Marimba" is an Afro-Latin word for a xylophone, a set of tuned wooden bars struck with mallets. The marimba exists in many different forms across Africa and Latin America; the modern instrument has metal tube resonators attached to the bars. The word is often encountered in the plural, for small marimbas are often played in pairs; instruments with two keyboards also exist. Marimbas play a role in various Latin American traditions, most prominently in those of Guatemala, and in the large swath of jazz that incorporates Latin timbres. The instrument also appears in classical orchestral music, and was a favorite vehicle for the experimentation carried on by avant-garde music's great do-it-yourselfer, Harry Partch.