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Marimba Chapinlandia

  • Arts & Culture

Jukebox: Hitting the Right Notes

  • By Jess Blumberg
  • Smithsonian magazine, December 2007

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  • Jukebox: The Robeson Spirit

    Jess Blumberg

    Related Links

    To purchase Chapinlandia—Marimba Music of Guatemala, go to the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Web site

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    The marimba, a type of xylophone with wooden bars arranged like piano keys, is believed to have been first brought to Latin America by African slaves. Marimba Chapinlandia, a band based in Guatemala City, uses an additional instrument, a train whistle, on "Ferrocarril de los altos" ("The Highland Train"), composed by the renowned marimbista Domingo Bethancourt in 1930 to commemorate the first railroad line from the highlands to the coast. Hear it below and Champinlandia: Marimba Music of Guatemala, a new Folkways collection featuring 19 of the band's songs.

    Listen to Marimba Chapinlandia sing "Ferrocarril de los altos"

    Visit the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Web site for purchase and more information

    The marimba, a type of xylophone with wooden bars arranged like piano keys, is believed to have been first brought to Latin America by African slaves. Marimba Chapinlandia, a band based in Guatemala City, uses an additional instrument, a train whistle, on "Ferrocarril de los altos" ("The Highland Train"), composed by the renowned marimbista Domingo Bethancourt in 1930 to commemorate the first railroad line from the highlands to the coast. Hear it below and Champinlandia: Marimba Music of Guatemala, a new Folkways collection featuring 19 of the band's songs.

    Listen to Marimba Chapinlandia sing "Ferrocarril de los altos"

    Visit the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Web site for purchase and more information


     
    Comments

    How does one listen to "Ferrocaril de los altos" ?

    Posted by Roy McGregor on November 28,2007 | 10:33AM

    To get it to play for me, I went to the Folkways site and clicked on the sound icon to the right of the selection. It played most, but not all , of the song. Hope this works for you, Victoria

    Posted by Victoria Van Deusen on November 30,2007 | 09:24AM

    I tried to access Pete Seegar via Smithsonian.com/jukebox with no luck. Why? (Jan 2008 issue) I've never been able to access anything per your instructions. Most of the time I don't try.

    Posted by Miriam Cauthen on December 22,2007 | 05:59PM

    I have been trying to listen to Pete Seeger with no luck at all. Could the instructions be in error? Or is it just me?

    Posted by Florence Jansen on December 26,2007 | 12:18PM

    I tried to get Pete Seegar at Smithsonian,com/jukebox.. I have tried to get things from your mag. before and never could get anything

    Posted by Laura Austin on December 26,2007 | 04:42PM

    directions please for Pete Seager

    Posted by daniel lepak on December 27,2007 | 09:07AM

    Tried to hear "Ferrisarrie de los altos". But was unable to get it. However, Seeger came thru just fine.

    Posted by A Bowen on December 29,2007 | 02:19PM

    Go to the bottom of this page and click on the January 2008 magazine cover (the one with the camel). Under "Articles", Click on Jukebox: Seeger Singalong, clear down at the bottom of the page, then click that you want to hear it. Worked the first time I did it. Great!

    Posted by Judy Tate on January 1,2008 | 08:11PM

    Where is the recording of "Take the A Train", done in Egypt?

    Posted by Blaine T. Hanks on April 29,2008 | 12:01PM

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