19th January 2011 at SOAS (Brunei Gallery), London WC1 (Krar Collective gig).
The Krar (or Kraar) is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Ethiopia and Eritrea. They are lyres i.e. their strings emanate from a common point. The Krar’s strings are stretched vertically between a lower soundbox and an upper cross-bar. The latter is supported by two side-posts, which are inserted at their bases into the soundbox.
Krars are assigned the number 321.21 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.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid-body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonator’s surface.
321.2 = Yoke Lutes or Lyres. Instruments where the strings are attached to a yoke which lies in the same plane as the sound-table and consists of two arms and a cross-bar.
321.21 = Bowl Lyres. A natural or carved-out bowl serves as the resonator.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Krar Lyre Ethiopia Krar Collective SOAS
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11th June 2016 at St Ethelburga’s, London EC2.
The Krar (or Kraar) is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Ethiopia and Eritrea. They are lyres i.e. their strings emanate from a common point. The Krar’s strings are stretched vertically between a lower soundbox and an upper cross-bar. The latter is supported by two side-posts, which are inserted at their bases into the soundbox.
Krars are assigned the number 321.21 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.
32 = Composite Chordophone. Acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments which have a resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solid-body electric chordophones.
321 = Lutes. Instruments where the plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonator’s surface.
321.2 = Yoke Lutes or Lyres. Instruments where the strings are attached to a yoke which lies in the same plane as the sound-table and consists of two arms and a cross-bar.
321.21 = Bowl Lyres. A natural or carved-out bowl serves as the resonator.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Krar Lyre Ethiopia Haymanot Tesfa St Ethelburga’s
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19th January 2011 at SOAS (Brunei Gallery), London WC1.
Part of SOAS Concert Series (free event). The Music Department at the School of Oriental and African Studies puts on an annual series of concerts between October and May – covering the globe and not just the areas suggested by the institute’s name, www.soas.ac.uk/music/events/concerts/.
Country: Ethiopia (British resident). Style: Traditional Ethiopian / Fusion.
Lineup: Temesegen Tareken (v/krar), Genet Asefa (v/dancer), Robel Tesfaye (kebero drums) and two other dancers on some songs.
The Krar Collective, sometimes known as the Geata Krar Collective (they developed out of GEAT - Genna Ethiopian Arts and Theatre), create a highly effective groove from just vocals, Krar (a five or six string harp) and Kebero drums.
More information: www.myspace.com/krarcollective.
Tags: World Music Ethiopia Krar Collective Temesegen Tareken Krar Lyre SOAS Concert Series SOAS
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19th June 2011 at Bernie Spain Gardens (Main Stage), London SE1.
Celebrating Sanctuary (annual free festival. Part of Refugee Week).
Country: Ethiopia (British resident). Style: Armenian, Icelanic, Ethiopian, Mandinka.
Lineup: Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian (v/harp), Solveig Thoroddsen (v/medieval harp), Temesegen Tareken (v/krar/kebero drums), Kadialy Kouyaye (v/kora).
Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian is a Suffolk born composer, singer and harpist, and part of a variety of groups playing different forms of music. Through her Armenian heritage (her father) she has taken an interest in its music. The Celebrating Sanctuary Festival sponsored this collaboration bringing together the Clarsach (the Celtic Lever Harp), the Medieval Harp, the Ethiopian Krar and the West African Kora. I have previously taken photos of Temesegen Tareken’s Krar Collective and Kadialy Kouyaye with his band and that of Adriano Adewale: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157625894782968/, www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157625345430523/, and www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/sets/72157626397628834/.
More information: web.me.com/cevannehh/www.cevanne.com/.
Tags: World Music Ethiopia Home is where the Harp is Temesegen Tareken Krar Lyre Celebrating Sanctuary Refugee Week Bernie Spain Gardens
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11th June 2016 at St Ethelburga’s, London EC2.
Part of "Listen to the World" series.
Country: Ethiopia (British resident). Style: Traditional Ethiopian / Fusion.
Lineup: Haymanot Tesfa (v/krar), Tom Green (array mbira/kalimba/p), Alex Dayo (congas/djembe/bara).
Haymanot Tesfa has performed with the M.oo.K Ensemble and Neanderthals (which include Tom Green) and is now working on a solo album. As well as a musiciab,she is also a visual artist.
More information: haymanot-tesfa.blogspot.co.uk/, www.facebook.com/haymanottesfamusic/.
Tags: World Music Ethiopia Haymanot Tesfa Krar Lyre Listen to the World St Ethelburga’s
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