[Aztlan] Tuun drums

[SUE GLENN]

Dear Listeros (especially musical ones),

On a visit to a local NC art gallery, I spotted a beautifully carved wooden box that reminded me in appearance of the carved wooden "tuun"-style drums that I have seen in museums and books.  When I struck it with the foam mallets that had been provided, however, it produced tonal music - 10 distinct notes for this particular one - and they sounded wonderfully like a marimba.  When the box is placed on something open like a stool and played, the tones reverbrate and sound even more marimba-like.  Does anyone know if the wooden tuun drums produce sound other than some clunking hollow log sound? Were they musical as well as percussive?   As a basically non-musical person I know nothing about how the marimba developed, but was struck by the tonal similarities.  This sound is VERY musical and quite entrancing!

Thanks for any help,
Sue Glenn
Blowing Rock, NC