MusicPlanetEarth » music

Kalimba Magic

involved — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:30:14 +0000

With an uncanny power to mesmerize, the kalimba is a unique instrument with ancient roots and world wide influence. Considering the ease of play, affordability and quality sound of the kalimba, it is a wonder that the instrument isn’t a household item, much less a well-used part of music.

After the video, Click Here to see another kalimba in action.

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Mbira Music of Zimbabwe

involved — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:52:00 +0000

Perhaps the greatest musical contribution to come from Southeastern Africa, the mbira is an ancient instrument traditionally played during the religious ceremonies and social gatherings of the Shona people. There are dozens of different “thumb pianos” found throughout Africa and other parts of the world, and it is believed that the mbira predates them all.

To amplify the sound, the mbira is often set inside a resonating chamber, usually a hollowed gourd, and to this gourd are typically attached sea shells or bottle caps to produce a certain ringing sound when the mbira is played. This unique quality is considered most important, as this ringing sound is said to invoke the spirits during ceremonies and gatherings.

After this video, Click Here to see what Hugh Tracey created when he got back from his travels to Africa, with the influence of instruments like the mbira in mind.

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Chapman Stick Instrumental Demo

involved — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:16:40 +0000

What makes the Chapman Stick a unique musical instrument is not that it produces any kind of original sound, but that it plays the part of two different instruments at once. The Stick, as it is commonly referred to by its players, comes with anywhere from eight to twelve strings, but most typically with ten… six for the part of the guitar and four for the bass.

Unlike either the guitar or bass, the Stick is designed to be played not by strumming or plucking but by hammering notes on the fretboard, so both hands may be involved in playing notes and the two parts may be played simultaneously.

After watching the video, Click Here to check out another string instrument.

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Master Accordion Performance

involved — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:12:29 +0000

Perhaps no other instrument is as commonly abused as the accordion. And understandably so… the accordion is very difficult to play at a high level, so most often the instrument fails to even glimpse its potential in the hands of a novice. In the hands of a virtuoso, however, the accordion shines and the listener is left wondering how so much music can be coming from a single instrument.

Strange thing though, if this video here is any indication, it seems you must be more than exceptionally talented, but also a little bit silly if you hope to master the accordion. After the performance, Click Here to see another amazing accordion video.

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Dante Bucci hang drum

involved — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:39:01 +0000

Another video of Dante Bucci on the hang, the steel hand drum of Switzerland. If you are at all familiar with the hang, you know all about how difficult it is to get your hands on one of these.

Being only a few years old, the hang, or hang drum as it is commonly called, is still made by just the two original creators, and as of the date of posting, they have taken a break from production for an indefinite period of time. With only a few thousand in existence, good luck coming across one! Maybe someday…

Until then, enjoy the amazing music of the hang in the video below, then Click Here and see what Manu Delago does with the hang.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sansula and guitar improv

involved — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:07:19 +0000

Another sort of thumb piano, the sansula is a percussion instrument very similar to the kalimba and mbira. What makes the sansula unique is that the keys are set on a small frame drum, which may be lifted to alter the sound and provide a special effect.

In this video, the guitar accompanies the sansula for quite the improv. After viewing, Click Here to check out another unique percussion instrument.

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Koncovka Flute Improvisation

involved — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:46:01 +0000

Needless to say, most flutes are played by covering and uncovering holes on the surface of the instrument. But the koncovka is not like most flutes. Rather, the sound is produced by opening and closing the bottom hole by hand, and by the speed of the air blown into the flute.

Traditionally played by Slovakian shepherds, check out this improvisation of the koncovka overtone flute, then Click Here to see another special flute video.

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Wooden Tongue Drum

involved — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:20:40 +0000

From the oldest family of music instruments, the tongue drum is a simple instrument with an amazing sound. Technically, it’s not a drum, as there is no vibrating membrane. It is instead classified as an idiophone (though somehow the word isn’t in the dictionary), as the tongue drum makes its sound through the vibration of the body when struck by mallets or played by hand.

For thousands of years, tongue drums were made to have just one or two slits and more closely represent what is now called the slit drum. These days, tongue drums are typically made to have anywhere from 4 to 16 notes, and usually have their own unique tuning.

After watching this video, Click Here to see another unusual percussion instrument.

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World Music Band

involved — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:50:40 +0000

From Bangalore, India, Shoonya is a world music band featuring a limitless sound thanks to the unique instrumentation. The band includes a flatboard guitar, flute, didgeridoo, harmonica, djembe, saxophone and more. Enjoy the pure creation of music that is, Shoonya!

After the video, check out another djembe performance.

Click here to view the embedded video.

African Hand Drums Djembe and Kpalongo

involved — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:15:32 +0000

In this video, the djembe plays aside the kpalongo hand drum from Ghana.

After the video, check out this other djembe.

Click here to view the embedded video.