The Embodying Rhythm Marimba Ensemble plays fun, groovy, multi-dimensional, polyphonic and polyrhythmic music. The ensemble is based in rural western Colorado and formed in 2015 through the group’s love of playing fun melodic percussion-based music together. They have been meeting once a week, in a small mud hut, to rehearse music that has been described as “perfect for movement on the dance floor as well as relaxing journeys of the ear and soul.”
The Embodying Rhythm Marimba Ensemble formed very organically, founded by David and Arlyn Alderdice, founders of the Embodying Rhythm School of Percussive Arts, with Jeannette Carey and Dylan Fixmer, the two local music teachers at the public schools, Daniel Be, the sound guy for David’s World Music in Paradise concert series, Matt Drbohlav and Rebecca Drbohlav, local business owners, and Jen Sanborn, a local visual artist and goat farmer.
The ensemble started off by playing traditional tunes from Zimbabwe, then branched out to some South African Jazz tunes and some Nigerian Afrobeat tunes, then on to some of the marimba traditions of South America and the Caribbean, then on to some European music experimenting with arranging some Celtic, Balkan and Spanish music, then to arranging some selective classic rock covers and pop tunes, then to trying some classical music, then to experimenting with odd-time signatures, and then to creating new and original ensemble compositions.
With many different multi-instrumentalists in the ensemble, they get to explore many different musical sounds and instrumental timbres. In addition to the 7 marimbas, this funky 8 piece ensemble also uses the sounds of mandolin, trumpet, flute, melodica, drumset, cajon, steelpan, glockenspiel, percussion, bass clarinet, clarinet, trombone, marching baritone horn, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone sax, voices and more percussion. They also have didgeridoo, baritone saxophone and trombone on their debut album “Music for Everyday Life”.
Here are some videos for you to enjoy of the Embodying Rhythm Marimba Ensemble playing live. If you’ve never heard or seen a full marimba ensemble, we recommend checking it out.
Thank you to Devon Meyers Photography for our new photos!
A sample from “Music for Everyday Life”