21st July 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.

The Board Zither found in the north-east and southern regions of the Congo consists of a flat plank over which strings are stretched and held in place with grooves and two bridges on each narrow end of the board.

Ths instrument was made around 1968 and was played by the Efe People of the Ituri rain forest in the northeast of the Congo, It is smaller and has fewer strings than most of the Congolese Board Zithers.

Board Zithers are assigned the number 314 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
31 = Simple Chordophones. Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer
314 = Board Zither. Instrument uses a string bearer that is shaped like a board, or is the ground.

Tags:   Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Board Zither [Efe] Zither Congo Horniman Museum

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15th June 2015 at British Library (Foyer), London NW1 (Joglaresa gig).

The Medieval Dulcimer is the predecessor of the modern Hammered Dulcimer. It originated in the Middle East and was played across Europe during the Middle Ages. They were played on the lap or a table, and struck by hammers held between the index and middle fingers At first they had had single courses of six to nine strings and one or two bridges. Later multiple bridges were more common, with between eight and twelve double courses.

Medieval Dulcimers are assigned the number 314.122-4 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
31 = Simple Chordophones. Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer
314 = Board Zither. Instrument uses a string bearer that is shaped like a board, or is the ground.
314.1 = Instrument with strings parallel to the string bearer.
314.12 = Instrument has a resonator.
314.122 = Box Zither. Instrument has a resonator made from slats.
314.122-4 = Strings are caused to vibrate by hammers or beaters.

Tags:   Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Medieval Dulcimer Zither Joglaresa British Library

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15th June 2015 at British Library (Entrance Hall), London NW1.

Part of Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy (free event).

Country: Britain. Style: Western Classical - Medieval Music.

Lineup: Belinda Sykes (v/bagpipes/shawm/recorder), Angela Hicks (v/harp), Sianed Jones (fidel), Magnus Mehta (percussion), Louise Morgan (percussion).

I saw this group perform part of their "Robbers, Rebels and Royals" programme (devised to tie in with the Magna Carta 800th anniversary) just a few months ago. For photos see: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157651298483405/. This event was organised to supplement the British Library's " Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy" exhibition and took place on the exact anniversary of the sealing of the charter. They appeared without a storyteller and with one of the fidel players replaced by an extra percussionist.
More information: www.joglaresa.com/, www.facebook.com/pages/Joglaresa/55623383595.

Tags:   Western Classical Music Great Britain Early Music Joglaresa Medieval Dulcimer Dulcimer Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy British Library

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30th January 2018 at the Edinburgh University Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh.

The Epinette des Vosges is a traditional zither from the Vosges mountains of eastern France. It has two melody and three drone strings, 17 frets and is 50-60 cm long (early versions had four strings, 14 frets and were 40-50 cm long). It is played lying on a table in front of the musician using either the fingers or small stick in the right hand Sometimes the strings are fretted with a smooth stick or reed, called a noteur in the left hand to produce a sliding metallic sound.

Ths instrument was made by Amant Constant (Amé) Lambert n Val d'Ajol in the Vosges mountains in the late 19th century.

Epinettes des Vosges are assigned the number 314.122-4 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
31 = Simple Chordophones. Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer
314 = Board Zither. Instrument uses a string bearer that is shaped like a board, or is the ground.
314.1 = Instrument with strings parallel to the string bearer.
314.12 = Instrument has a resonator.
314.122 = Box Zither. Instrument has a resonator made from slats.
314.122-4 = Strings are caused to vibrate by hammers or beaters.

Tags:   Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Epinette des Vosges Zither France St Cecilia’s Hall

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21st July 2016 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.

The Epinette des Vosges is a traditional zither from the Vosges mountains of eastern France. It has two melody and three drone strings, 17 frets and is 50-60 cm long (early versions had four strings, 14 frets and were 40-50 cm long). It is played lying on a table in front of the musician using either the fingers or small stick in the right hand Sometimes the strings are fretted with a smooth stick or reed, called a noteur in the left hand to produce a sliding metallic sound.

Ths instrument was made in France in the 19th century. It has five strings and 17 frets.

Epinettes des Vosges are assigned the number 314.122-4 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs ), indicating:
3 = Chordophone. Instruments where the sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed points.
31 = Simple Chordophones. Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer
314 = Board Zither. Instrument uses a string bearer that is shaped like a board, or is the ground.
314.1 = Instrument with strings parallel to the string bearer.
314.12 = Instrument has a resonator.
314.122 = Box Zither. Instrument has a resonator made from slats.
314.122-4 = Strings are caused to vibrate by hammers or beaters.

Tags:   Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Epinette des Vosges Zither France Horniman Museum

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