about

marima moods

meet david harvey

Marimbist, historian, and educator David Harvey is a tireless advocate for the rich legacy of mallet percussion music. Beginning in the 1970's, he interviewed many surviving mallet percussionists from the early part of the 20th century. He also assembled an extensive collection of memorabilia about mallet percussion history, including instruments, sound recordings dating from the 19th century, sheet music, films, photographs, method books, press releases, books, letters, catalogs, and more.

The result of Mr. Harvey's exhaustive scholarship is a profound picture of a musical past never before documented in such a sophisticated level of detail, substance, and accuracy.

Through public outreach, Mr Harvey has brought this exciting historicity to life by means of many educational activities:

  • Presents multimedia events about the history of mallet percussion at colleges, such as the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, as well as at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

  • Contributing author on the history of mallet percussion in Percussive Notes, the journal of the Percussive Arts Society.

  • Created a Facebook group in 2015 for the research and dissemination of mallet percussion history, which currently includes more than 5,000 members worldwide.

  • Authored an educational online course about the history of mallet percussion music published by VAP Media, which is used by college percussion departments.

  • Has contributed to books on the history of mallet percussion, including "The Xylophone in Acoustic Recordings" by William Cahn; "Xylophone Days" by Mutsumi Tsuuzaki; and "The Heart of the Mission" by Cary Cordova.

  • Produced a 6 CD set, "The Green Brothers' Collection" for Xylophonia Music Co.
    Has transcribed, edited, and produced historical mallet percussion music from vintage recordings for sheet music publication.

  • Has preserved hundreds of historical documents and sound recordings about mallet percussion through digital processing and restoration techniques.

  • Mr. Harvey is Chief Collaborator and Historian of the Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.