El relicario
June is “Immigrant Heritage Month.” Throughout the month we will be posting materials relating to immigration and immigrant cultures of NYC.
One hundred years ago today… “El Relicario” (“The Charm”) was available on 78 RPM vinyl from Victor Records. Recorded by The Blue and White Marimba band from Guatemala, it is one of the earliest examples of Latin music (loosely defined) put out by a US company.
Library of Congress. Click here to listen.
“El Relicario” was one of numerous releases for Victor that day.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1 June 1921, p. 4. Newspapers.com.
The all-instrumental track was recorded by the Blue and White Marimba Band, sometimes called Marimba Azul y Blanco, or other variations. According to the John Peel Wiki:
The Azul y Blanco Marimba Band of Guatemala (translated as the Blue & Black [sic?] Marimba Band) were a group from Guatemala playing Marimba music, who were popular in America during the 1910's. The performance of the Blue and White Marimba Band of Guatemala at New York City’s Hippodrome in 1916 was the spark that ignited America’s new interest in the music of Guatemalan Marimba Bands. That concert quickly led to recordings by the group for both Columbia and Victor record labels.
The Discography of American Historical Recordings reports: “Victor ledgers of 1915 note that the band is ‘known throughout South America as Quiroz and Cia.’ 1920 ledgers show the group as ‘Mata's Blue and White Marimba Band.’ “ The advertisement above shows that R.N. Mata was the group’s manager.
Advertisement in Vogue, October 1916. Courtesy the Vintage Site.
Numerous marimba bands were active in NYC in 1921, including Elwyn’s Marimba Band, the Royal Marimba Band, and the Imperial Marimba Band.
“El Relicario,” written by Spanish composer José Padilla, was so popular in the US that it was recorded twice more in 1921, both times in vocal versions. Renato Zanelli recorded it for Victor, and Marguerite D’Alvarez for Aeolian Vocalion.
– Jonathan Goldman, June 1, 1921
TAGS: music, Latin, Latinx, Guatemala, Spain, Latin America, Central America, recordings, record company, label