24th September 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Nanga zither (there is also a harp with the same name) is played by the Haya-speaking people of North West Tanzania, west of Lake Victoria. It is carved from a solid piece of dark-coloured wood with a long narrow trough. Both ends are pierced with six holes, and a single length of heavy cord is passed between them and tied round a handle at one of the ends.
This instrument was made before 1960.
Nangas (the trough zither version) are assigned the number 315.1 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://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
315 = Trough Zither Instruments where the strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough.
315.1 = Without resonator.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Nanga (Zither) Tanzania Horniman Museum
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24th September 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
This Trough Zither was made by the Batooro people of western Uganda. Seven holes are bored at each end for the strings. Four slots are cut out of the wood at the centre of the trough, possibly for the attachment of a gourd resonator.
This instrument was made before 1953.
Trough Zither [Batooro] are assigned the number 315.1 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://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
315 = Trough Zither Instruments where the strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough.
315.1 = Without resonator.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Trough Zither (Batooro} Uganda Horniman Museum
© All Rights Reserved
24th September 2020 at Horniman Museum, London SE23.
The Chipango is a Zambian Trough Zither with gourd resonator. The body etched with zig-zag pattern and the handle is a carved representation of a human head... A single length of plastic string passes through ten holes bored on each side of the trough.
This instrument was made around 1970 by Mr Kasempe.
Chipangos are assigned the number 315.2 in the Hornbostel-Sachs classification of musical instruments ( http://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
315 = Trough Zither Instruments where the strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough.
315.2 = With resonator.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Chipango Zambia Horniman Museum
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19th February 2011 at SOAS (Khalili Lecture Theatre), London WC1 (London Fiddle Conference demonstration).
The Serankure is a bowed monochord instrument from southern Africa. The name differs from country to country (varations include Sehankule, Sehankuru, Tsorwani, Gorito, Isicelekeshe). The one pictured is from Botswana. The resonator is an oil can, ansd the string made of wire. It is played with a small bow. The sound varies according by changing pressure and direction of the bow, altering the bow tension by varying the position of the thumb on the bow hand, and by touching the string with the thumb of the hand holding the instrument.
A photo of this instrument being played can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/5528404539/.
Serankures are assigned the number 315.2 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
315 = Trough Zither Instruments where the strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough.
315.2 = With resonator.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Serankure Southern Africa London Fiddle Conference SOAS
© All Rights Reserved
19th February 2011 at SOAS (Khalili Lecture Theatre), London WC1 (London Fiddle Conference demonstration).
The Serankure is a bowed monochord instrument from southern Africa. The name differs from country to country (varations include Sehankule, Sehankuru, Tsorwani, Gorito, Isicelekeshe). The one pictured is from Botswana. The resonator is an oil can, ansd the string made of wire. It is played with a small bow. The sound varies according by changing pressure and direction of the bow, altering the bow tension by varying the position of the thumb on the bow hand, and by touching the string with the thumb of the hand holding the instrument.
A photo of this instrument being played can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/5528404539/.
Serankures are assigned the number 315.2 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
315 = Trough Zither Instruments where the strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough.
315.2 = With resonator.
Tags: Musical Instrument Hornbostel-Sachs Chordophone Serankure Southern Africa London Fiddle Conference SOAS
© All Rights Reserved