Biographical Note
Vida Chenoweth (b. 1929), is considered the first solo classical concert marimbist, and is known for her career as a marimba artist, as well as a linguist and ethnomusicologist. She served as a linguist and Bible translator in Papua New Guinea, where she worked with colleague, Darlene Bee, analyzing the Usarufa language, teaching Usarufa people to read, and recording their music. Chenoweth devised a method of ethnic music analysis during her years recording and studying Usarufa music. She has authored several books and academic journal articles on ethnic oral music traditions, and she developed the ethnomusicology program at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music based on her theories and analyses of ethnic music. Chenoweth and her ethnomusicology students documented the music and practices of cultures across Papua New Guinea, Africa, South and Central America, and the Southwest United States.