RANDY ARMSTRONG & WORLDBEAT MARIMBA - THE STORY

WorldBeat Marimba - The Story

RANDY ARMSTRONG & WORLDBEAT MARIMBA · Thursday, March 5, 2020

Marimba Bands can be heard and experienced throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Southern Africa. Even in the United States you can find Marimba Bands from the Pacific Northwest to New England inspired by many African musicians who have taught the tradition and instruments at Universities and Cultural Institutions in the U.S. for decades. I have been a performer, teacher and student of the balafon which is the West Africa marimba/xylophone style instrument similar to the South African marimbas for over four decades. While on tour in South

Africa as an accompanist for the women’s chorus, Voices From The Heart in the summer of 2018, I experienced the dynamic and joyous music of Marimba Bands at concert halls, churches, schools and street performances. At a concert we performed with Desmond Tutu and his family in attendance, a young group of talented and energetic South African Marimba players performed traditional songs and pop tunes that had the entire audience singing and dancing together. Even Papa Tutu got up to dance to the song, PATA PATA made famous by South African singer, Miriam Makeba and played brilliantly by the Marimba Band. At that moment, I was inspired to commission a set of South African Marimbas handcrafted by ethnomusicologist, Gavin Coppenhall - African Ethos Instruments in Cape Town. The Marimbas arrived at the Port of New York on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2018 and the journey begins.

WorldBeat Marimba started with members of Voices From The Heart who toured South Africa and were inspired to become students of the Marimba. Many others have joined in weekly group classes and rehearsals at my Beauty Hill Music Studios in Barrington, New Hampshire USA. Our premiere concert performances on November 23, 2019 at South Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with Voices From The Heart were enthusiastically received performing the Zimbabwe songs, Baba Mudiki and Muno Sara Nani with over 200 women singers. The musical journey continues with more classes, rehearsals, collaborations and concert performances. We even added a Trinidad/Tobago Steel Drum and hand-percussion in the mix. Please join in the fun and excitement today! Four to Eight week classes continue throughout the year.

"Music is a great blessing. It has the power to elevate and liberate us. It sets people free to dream. It can unite us to sing with one voice.” — Nelson Mandela

Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba South Church • Portsmouth New Hampshire USA • November 2019

Peggo Horstmann Hodes, Director with Songweaver Drummers Grace Schust and Lindsey Schust, Co-Directors and special guests the WorldBeat Marimba Band Randy Armstrong, Director