The folkloric sounds of Kansas City's Marimba Sol de Chiapas

By Brooke Knoll,

Sam Wisman

Published July 21, 2022 at 3:20 PM CDT

Marimba Sol de Chiapas director John Currey at home with two of his marimbas made in Chiapas, Mexico

Explore folkloric and genre-bending music from Chiapas, Mexico, courtesy of Kansas City's Marimba Sol de Chiapas. Artistic director John Currey will explain the roots of this traditional style of playing and how it came to Kansas City. We'll also learn about an upcoming collaboration with Ensemble Iberica from artistic director Beau Bledsoe.

Host

Brooke Knoll

Guests

John Currey
Beau Bledsoe

1 of 4 — 20220721_bk_marimba1

Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3

2 of 4 — 20220721_bk_marimba2

Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3

3 of 4 — 20220721_bk_marimba3

Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3

4 of 4 — 20220721_bk_marimba4

Carlos Moreno / KCUR 89.3

Program

Chiapas
by Alberto Dominguez, arr. by Zeferino Nandayapa Ralda
Marimba Yajalon

El Sinoloense
by Mariano Briseno, arr. by Zeferino Nandayapa Ralda
Marimba Yajalon

Guadalajara
by Pepe Guizar, arr. by Zeferino Nandayapa Ralda
Marimba Yajalon

Medley
by Zeferino Nandayapa Ralda
Marimba Yajalon

Hay Unos Ojos
by Ramon Ayala, arr. by Beau Bledsoe and John Currey
Mireya Ramos with Marimba Sol de Chiapas and Ensemble Iberica

Male Consuelito
Traditional, arr. by Beau Bledsoe and John Currey
Marimba Sol de Chiapas and Ensemble Iberica

Andarele Vamanos
Traditional, arr by Beau Bledsoe and John Currey
Marimba Sol de Chiapas and Ensemble Iberica

Marimba Concerto
I. Preludio y Danza
II. Tapiz Para El Kapitan
by James Mobberley
Marimba Yajalon with Paul Freeman and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra

John Currey plays a folkloric marimba from Ecuador. Rather than resting on legs, the instrument is suspended above the ground by rope and a wooden frame. — John Currey plays a "marimba esmeraldeña" from the northern Pacific coast of Ecuador. Rather than resting on legs, the instrument is suspended above the ground by rope on a wooden frame.

You can learn more about Marimba Sol de Chiapas at mexicanmarimba.com, and more info about Ensemble Iberica and their upcoming performances can be found at ensembleiberica.org.