Mbila (musical instrument)
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Mbila is a musical instrument of Mozambique, belonging to the idiophone classification within the percussion family of instruments. Plural of the instrument is timbila. It is not to be confused with mbira, the thumb piano. [1] It is related to the xylophone; the latter is believed to have originated in Indonesia. [1]
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[edit] Structure and performance
[edit] Structure
Early forms were constructed of bars atop a gourd. [2]
[edit] Performance
The mbila is played by striking the bars with mallets.
Ensembles of the instrument consist of about ten timbila players. [3]
The pieces that the ensembles play are ngomi. The ensemble leaders set their choice for the variation of the composition. Individual performers partially improvise their playing performance. [4]
[edit] Cultural group associated with performance of the instrument
The instrument is traditionally associated with the Chopi people of the Inhambane Province. [5]
[edit] Individual performers famous as timbila performers:
- Eduardo Durão
- Venancio Mbande [6]
[edit] References and external links
- Nettl, Bruno (1956). Music in Primitive Culture. Harvard University Press.
- Paco, Celso. "A Luta Continua". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 579-584. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
- Tracey, Hugh. (1948, reprinted 1970). Chopi Musicians: their Music, Poetry, and Instruments. London: International African Institute and Oxford University Press. SBN 19 724182 4.
- Hallis, Ron and Hallis, Ophera. (1987). Chopi Music of Mozambique. 28 minutes. 16 mm Video.
- The 1973 Mgodo wa Mbanguzi A complete performance of traditional music and dance composed by a Chopi village in southern Mozambique. Produced by Gei Zantzinger and Andrew Tracey.
- Timbila Ta Venancio Venancio Mbande album at Amazon
- Timbila Eduardo Durão album at Amazon.
- Center for Traditional Music and Dance
- Representations of the mbila in Mukondeni Art Gallery, South Africa
[edit] See also
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