Mayan Music Instruments
The current Mayan instruments used on spiritual Mayan ceremonies and activities
have different origins according to regions. Those close to ancestral used
by elders and priests are drums, clay stuff, and marimba. Each one has
syncretism transformation as used generation bygeneration. 
The Marimba is a musical percussion instrument made of wood that produces melodic sounds when its keys are pounded with mallets covered by layers of cow’s intestine. It is recognized as the national instrument of music in Guatemala.
Nowadays, the marimba has become an instrument played by several musicians, who harmonically generate melodic sounds. Historians attribute spiritual origin to the created sounds specifically during Mayan spiritual ceremonies. They attribute Q' ojoom as the correct name of the marimba in the Mayan language.
The
Q' ojoom is composed of ant wood (Palo de Hormigo) and cedar, combined
harmonically to produce an acoustic sound of percussion with (Tecomates)
or the cedar box under the wooden keys. The marimba sound is mixture
of other Mayan instruments, for example the Tun, which produces an
acoustic sound like tun, tun. Both instruments were used during Mayan
ceremonies and actually during celebration of the 260 days of
the Sacred Calendar and 360-days of the Civilian Calendar also known
as Waxaqib B' atz, anil Belejeb Q', Cholqij and Kotzijal of the Mayan
Calendar.
Marco Antonio Flores investigator
the mari
mba
origin from the Waxaqib Q' ojoom Group expresses that marimba’s
name was attributed by Spaniards during its continent’s invasion.
This is because the invaders did not have an understanding of Mayan
musical instruments. The lack of knowledge regarding the Q' ojoom,
denominated it marimba, comparing it to a musical instrument created
by the Africans that were forced into the continent as slaves.
The Marimba has transformed from a simply designed instrument to a complex one by adding new innovations into sound production. As a music instrument, it will be continued to be called marimba, but the Mayan origin name is Q'ojoom. The Mayans came together with Xijolaj, Water Whistle, the Tzu Ja, and the Kajib Tijax, in diverse combinations to produce nature simulation and gratefulness to the Ajaw creator.
The “Marimba” or Q' ojoom as a musical instrument is used during community celebrations and celebrations of towns and villages where it belongs. Musically interpreted it includes a mix of traditional music as well as more modern music.
Below are musical song produced by the Waxaqib Q'ojoom using traditional Mayan instruments.
Note: We thank Bartolo Alvarez, and members of Waxaqijb Q' ojoom Group for providing us with information about the source of the “marimba”.
By Antonio Calan