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Ay Marimba! Trivia Quiz

This little number is a challenging quiz about the little-known instrument, the marimba! Similar to a xylophone, sounding more like a vibrophone, this quiz should have you thinking! Enjoy, and good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by Flynn_17. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Flynn_17

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
174,641

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
289

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The marimba is very similar to many other wooden-keyed instruments. Which of these instruments is least similar to the marimba? (The marimba is two rows of wooden keys hung over resonator tubes.) Hint

Xylophone

Tubular Bells

Vibraphone

Glockenspiel

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Question 2 of 10

2. The native people of which country are said to have designed and named the marimba? Hint

Sesothos, Lesotho

Zulus, South Africa

Amerindians, Venezuela

Portuguese, Portugal

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which man was credited with adapting the marimba in such a way as to make it into the marimba recognised today? Hint

Sebastian Heruenges

Magdele Amaraga

Miguel Hernandes

Sebastian Hurtado

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Question 4 of 10

4. And what nationality was the man who adapted the marimba to form today's modern basis for the instrument? Hint

Colombian

Honduran

Guatemalan

Mexican

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the plural term for the word 'Marimba'? Hint

Marimbas

Marimba

Marimbae

Marimbs

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Question 6 of 10

6. The American musical instrument manufacturer 'Deagan of Chicago' decided to develop the marimba by changing what feature of the instrument? Hint

He changed the wooden resonators into metal ones

He adjusted the height of the marimba from three feet tall to four feet tall

He changed the type of wood used for the keys

He made the resonator tubes longer

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Question 7 of 10

7. What type of wood are the keys of the marimba made from? Hint

Rosewood

Jacaranda

Katango

Baobab Wood

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Question 8 of 10

8. How are marimba keys held to the marimba frame? Hint

By wires extended from one end of the frame to the other

By a prong at the top and bottom of the keys

On small padded key-rests on the frame

Superglue

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Question 9 of 10

9. The xylophone has a much higher pitched 'predominant overtone' than the marimba. Is this true or false?

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. The metal resonators of the marimba are made from aluminium, but which of the following descriptions most closely describes the set up of the resonator bars? Hint

Bars have one open end, one closed end. The open end is facing the floor

Bars have one open end, one closed end. The closed end is facing the floor

Bars have two open ends

Bars have two closed ends

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Glockenspiel

The marimba is described as two rows of wooden keys hung above a series of metal resonator pipes. The xylophone is a series of wooden keys held on a wooden box which acts as a resonator, a vibraphone is almost identical to a marimba, and tubular Bells are a series of long resonator tubes hung from a high frame.

The glockenspiel is the least similar as it has metal keys and no resonator, although all of these instruments are hit with beaters.

2. The native people of which country are said to have designed and named the marimba?

Answer: Zulus, South Africa

It is thought that the marimba was adapted from an old myth of the Zulus, where the goddess Marimba made an instrument with wooden keys held over hollowed out gourds and hit with beaters. The name is thought to have originated from this.

3. Which man was credited with adapting the marimba in such a way as to make it into the marimba recognised today?

Answer: Sebastian Hurtado

He adapted the marimba, which was introduced to the Americas by African slaves, by removing the hollowed gourd and replacing them with wooden resonator pipes.

4. And what nationality was the man who adapted the marimba to form today's modern basis for the instrument?

Answer: Guatemalan

The instrument was considered to have been improved extensively in South and Central America though the years. Improvements include the addition of keys, the fine tuning of the notes produced by keys, and the redesign of the resonator tubes which hang below.

5. What is the plural term for the word 'Marimba'?

Answer: Marimba

Famous instrument manufacturers who make marimba include Musser, Yamaha, Korogi, Saito, Marimba One, and Malletech.

6. The American musical instrument manufacturer 'Deagan of Chicago' decided to develop the marimba by changing what feature of the instrument?

Answer: He changed the wooden resonators into metal ones

The marimba has also undergone an improvement to make the layout of the keys more like that of a piano, although this was not carried out by 'Deagans of Chicago'.

7. What type of wood are the keys of the marimba made from?

Answer: Rosewood

It is for this reason that fewer and fewer marimba are being made each year. Rosewood is becoming less and less available for the keys, and as it is considered the best wood for the job, less marimba are produced.

8. How are marimba keys held to the marimba frame?

Answer: By wires extended from one end of the frame to the other

The marimba keys have a small hole in which runs through the centre of the paddle shaped area at the top and bottom of each key. This means that all the keys can be held on the same wire and vibrate enough to make a strong sound without disturbing the keys on either side.

9. The xylophone has a much higher pitched 'predominant overtone' than the marimba. Is this true or false?

Answer: False

The marimba 'note overtone' is much higher than that of the xylophone, at a whole two octaves higher than the fundamental note. This means that the marimba has to be tuned carefully so as not to lose the timbre of the sound.

10. The metal resonators of the marimba are made from aluminium, but which of the following descriptions most closely describes the set up of the resonator bars?

Answer: Bars have one open end, one closed end. The closed end is facing the floor

This is to increase the loudness of the note, and not to increase the duration of the note as is often thought.

Source: Author Flynn_17

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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