2 replies to this topic

[Steveweissmusic]

The Musser Marimba Orchestra performed a few times around August 1933. The group was made up of 100 specially made Deagan marimbas. Each marimba features a plaque with the players name and serial number. We are attempting to compile a list of the original 100 players, as no list seems to exist in the historical record.

If anyone has any images, video or articles involving the marimba band, we would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

[Randy Treadway]

Interesting topic... will look forward to reading more about this Marimba Orchestra. And 100 of them! Reminds me of the opening ceremonies of the '84 Olympics in Los Angeles, which featured a whole bunch of grand pianos playing Gershwin simultaneously. How many? 84, of course! (I guess they were trying to evoke Busby Berkely).


One of those 84 pianos is for sale, for five grand. Which makes it a 'grand' piano. LOL (boo, hiss!) Okay, a baby grand.
http://www.pianomart...php?ad_id=12119

Of course the Beijing Olympics had all those drums.

Steve, are those marimbas from 1933 spread around museums and private collections?

[Steveweissmusic]

Yes, we've been able to find quite a few of the original marimbas, with 3 in Steve's private collection. We have a page dedicated to our project, which includes some pictures.

http://www.steveweis...hestra/articles

If anyone has any information, programs, etc we'd love to see them. We've found some records of a live radio broadcast in on WGN in Chicago, but imagine no recording exists. Hopefully there is some home video out there somewhere.