Joyous, energetic, foot-stomping dance music erupts from these
hardwood keys, played by an ensemble of eight to produce a solid wall of
interlocking rhythms and melodic lines.
Each wooden marimba note is suspended above a resonator tube
for amplification. The tubes are capped at the bottom and have a hole in the
side or endcap covered with a thin membrane that buzzes during play, producing
the full, earthy sound that characterizes this music.
The Zimbabwean marimba is a modern invention, assembled in the early 1960's
at the Kwanangoma College of Music in Bulawayo. The soprano and tenor marimbas
have two octaves of keys, diatonic (the "white keys" of the
piano") plus F#. The soprano, tenor, and baritone marimbas invented at
Kwanangoma were augmented with a bass instrument by Dumi (Dumisani Maraire) when
he began teaching marimba music in Seattle, Washington in the 1970's.
Mbira
dzavadzimu
The mbira "of the ancestral spirits," also known as
the "big mbira" (huru) or simply "iron" (nhare), this
instrument of the Zezuru culture produces a heavenly, shimmering, resonant tone
that lends itself equally well to meditative inner journeys and wild dancing.
Nyunga
nyunga
The "sparkling" mbira of the Manyika culture belongs
to the karimba family of instruments. Like the big mbira, it is played with the
thumbs and right forefinger, which stroke the metal tongues to produce
interweaving lines and rhythms.
Hosho
The heartbeat of a marimba or mbira ensemble is the hosho
player, who uses a pair of these deceptively simple-looking instruments to keep
the pace.
Hosho are traditionally made from gnarly maranka gourds,
hollowed out and partially filled with hard hota seed. Snapping the hosho so
that the seed cracks against its interior wall makes the desired sound. It
sounds easy enough, but hosho can be one of the most challenging instruments to
play well.
A common rhythm played on hosho to accompany mbira music is a triplet
pattern. Often the back-swing just before the beat is emphasized. Rather than
accompanying the other instruments, the hosho often lead the way, cutting the
rhythm and giving the music a fine edge.
Chimurenga
guitar
Mbira music set to electric guitar has an exciting energy that
always brings dancers to their feet. The electric band music of Zimbabwe is
recognizable by its twining melodic lines and driving beat.
 Dandemutande
A resource for lovers of Zimbabwean music & culture
worldwide
www.dandemutande.com
Copyright © 2000 by Paul Novitski. All rights reserved.
Instrument Icons by Lindsey Heider.
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Marimba