It's almost eleven o'clock and those seeking a break from the high midday temperatures take a seat on one of the benches under the shade of the trees in Nicoya's Central Park. Suddenly the air is filled with the rhythm of marimba and sabanero shouts—all sounds of Guanacaste. Are there fiestas in Nicoya? No. Is there some sort of special celebration going on? Not quite.

To everyone's amazement, the music comes from a small suitcase. Despite its size, it plays Guanacaste songs with great power and clarity, filling Nicoya's noon hours with excitement.

Nicoya songwriter Elman Orozco is behind this invention. He is passionate about Guanacaste music and folklore and has participated for over thirty years in the province's music scene.

Two months ago Orozco, who has had a business license from the Municipality of Nicoya since 1990 in order to sell his CDs in the park, decided to invent this ingenious music-playing device.

Simple Yet Well Crafted
According to Orozco, building the device was not so difficult and took him only a couple of weeks to manufacture. The materials from which it is made are not difficult to find: a car radio, which is connected to a power source, and two loudspeakers.

All parts are hooked up within a wooden suitcase with a metal handle. On top of the suitcase, Elman exhibits both his recordings as well as that of other Guanacaste songwriters.

Orozco is now 65 years old. He recalls his musical beginnings with the folk group Los Colonicoyanos" and regrets that today's youth prefer other music genres to the point of ignoring Guanacaste music.

"Today's youth do not receive a music education that includes our own music. It is not entirely their fault; it is up to the schools to provide this education. It saddens me that they prefer rock and do not appreciate folk music," he affirms.

With his eye-catching "singing" suitcase, Orozco ensures that more people hear and know about Guanacaste music. Seeing this device, many are amazed not only by its construction but also by how it sounds, and some are even inspired to move along to the music's rhythm.

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