JUST SHOWING OFF MY TURQUOISE MARIMBA. This is a 5 1/2 octave (C to F) Mexican Marimba made by Alfredo Mancilla but with a Navajo Sand-Painting made by Norman, Joe, and Patsy Begay, who are a famous Navajo Indian family from Gallup, New Mexico. It features real turquoise stones ground into several small courses of sand. There is also a natural white sand but the yellow, pink, and purple sands are dyed. It is put on like glitter with a half mixture of water and glue but layered seven times. There are also silver corners with Navajo stamped designs made by John Chavez, also a Navajo Indian, no relation. All the bar supports are painted with turquoise sand. In spaces between the accidentals are also painted but also have a large turquoise stone facing the player. On the back frame, is a very intricate silver concho belt. Many turquoise stones and silver designs throughout. I used this Marimba when it was finished but it was too much hassle, and heavy, to move to gigs in my New Mexican Marimba Band and now it is retired and it hasnt been played in public for about 20 years. I had it made in 1989 by the Begay family, who refused for several months since it was out of their tradition. At the time, I was playing tympani/percussion with Santa Fe Pro Musica and we were going to travel to the Soviet Union in the spring of 1990 and they wanted me to perform my Orchestra and Marimba tunes, in the Mexican style, in concerts and then to play for special events and parties, and maybe even on Red Square which would have been really cool. So with this story, the Begays decided to do it since it would also represent the Native Americans in the USSR. We were being funded by the Soviet-American Friendship Committee but then in the fall of 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Republics were claiming independence so the trip was cancelled. The Marimba is still in mint condition and its covered from top to bottom to protect the sand from the dirt and dust but I do undress her every now and then and make love to her. I must say, that she is the MOST BEAUTIFUL MARIMBA EVER MADE... but Im kinda biased.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 02:01:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015