Information on the Marimba by David Vela translated by Vida Chenoweth
Background and Significance
David Vela's Information on the Marimba "set the bar for percussion research into the development and cultural significance of the marimba" and has been out of print for nearly 60 years, making it "nearly impossible to find."
Translation and Publication Details
The book was originally published in Spanish as Noticias sobre la Marimba and was translated into English in 1978 by Vida Chenoweth who was herself a renowned marimba scholar and performer. Chenoweth received "a State Department grant to study at the University of San Carlos, Guatemala" and authored The Marimbas of Guatemala, which became "the standard reference on the instrument."
Content and Scope
The book is 77 pages long and contains "information on the origins, culture and significance of the marimba" according to Vela's research. David Vela was among the Guatemalan musicologists who claimed "a pre-Hispanic origin for the marimba and glorified it as an ancient national treasure" during the nationalistic discourse of the first half of the 20th century.
Historical Context
Vela was part of a group of Guatemalan intellectuals, including Jesus Castillo and Armas Lara, who were interested in the origins of the marimba and positioned it as an important cultural artifact of Guatemala. His work contributed to the scholarly understanding of the marimba's role in Guatemalan culture beyond its Western perception as merely an exotic instrument.
This book represents an important early scholarly work on marimba history and culture from a Guatemalan perspective, complementing Chenoweth's later ethnomusicological research.