Each for All: The Co-operative Connection

In the spring of 1999, the Victoria based marimba band, Marimba Mazuva, came to the community of Port Alberni and transfixed their audience with a vibrant, resonating music. A few enthusiastic attendees talked to the band members during the intermission and it was decided that a workshop would be held the following day so those who were interested could learn about marimbas and possibly learn a tune.

The participants of the workshop had so much fun and thought the possibility of a Port Alberni marimba band would be an excellent community building project. People were not interested in purchasing an ensemble of marimbas as it would be rather costly so we discussed the possibility of pooling together resources to buy materials and under the instruction of some of the Victoria band members we could build our own instruments. We thought the process of building the instruments would not only help us to truly appreciate the music but also help us solidify a communal basis for the budding band.
 

 
The enthusiasm and momentum was strong and we spent a week out at Beardale Farm at the foot of the Beaufort range and to everyone’s astonishment we finished all the instruments, minus a few final details. The week was filled with red paduk dust, potluck dinners, marimba history and lore from our teachers, Dean Samuel and Don MacDonald, and an excitement that with everyone’s combined efforts we would be playing and learning on our very own instruments.

Marimbas originated in Africa and were imported to South America in the 16th century. The marimbas we built were the Zimbabwean marimbas that are based on Shona music. Marimbas are finely crafted xylophones made from hardwoods such as vermilion, mahogany and paduk (Marim-Bam-Buzz used paduk). The keys are fine-tuned to reflect the tones played in African societies. Each key has a resonator which amplifies the sound, producing a unique musical effect--from the clear, bell-like tones of the soprano marimba to the deep, percussive tones of the bass (Marim-Bam-Buzz used PVC pipes and wood plugs covered with cellophane which gives the buzz). Marimbas are about five feet long with their heights varying from two feet to more than five feet.
 

 
In the Marim-Bam-Buzz ensemble there are seven marimbas (3 sopranos, 2 tenors, a baritone and bass) along with percussion instruments: hoshos, cow bells, tambourine, hammer dulcimer and various hand drums. A few of the members had musical backgrounds and some with none at all, and together we began the process of learning a marimba repertoire. Every few months we had Dean Samuel often accompanied by Don MacDonald or Sandy Ockenden come and teach us a couple of songs and although we practised we were more concerned with having fun and just enjoying the process rather than the technical finesse, hence the name Marim-BAM-BUZZ.

Over the years, the band members have changed, but overall the energy and attitude remains the same. Any money that is made from a “paying gig” goes into a communal bank account and is put back into the band, be it buying new instruments, learning new material or the occasional bands night out. All in all, the musical venture that began with a few enthusiastic people over an opportunity has been wonderful, not without its share of trials and tribulations but Marim-Bam-Buzz keeps bamming and buzzing and bringing a smile to the various members faces and hopefully its listeners.

An Mp3 sample of Marim-Bam-Buzz's music can be found here.
 
Article by Anna Lewis