Mbira

Mbira, also known as 'Thumb-Piano' has it's origins in Zimbabwe.

Of the different instruments in the mbira family, the most sacred
and revered instrument is the Mbira dza Vadzimu pronounced
(ehm-BEE-rah zah-vahd-ZEE-moo)...

Mbira of the Ancestral Spirits!

The Mbira originated in Africa and is over 1,000 years old.
Mbira is the primary traditional instrument of the Zezuru tribes
of the Shona people in Zimbabwe.

Used in tribal ceremonies for ancestrial worship, at religious rituals, royal courts, and social occasions. The music is an extension of the culture, folklore, wisdom and spirituality of the Shona people.

Mbiras have a richly developed heritage steeped in oral tradition-
Families would gather together, play Mbira, sing songs and tell stories.

Shona people believe that death is the passage of the body from one physical form to another and a separation of spirit from the body to a higher world of living spirits. Ancestral spirits are a source of comfort as well as the cornerstone of religious activity. 

The living believe they are protected from worldly harm by these spirits. Should a sudden misfortune befall a family, they turn first to their ancestral spirits for advice, guidance and protection.

In a lengthy and protocol intensive special eremony, special songs  are recalled to welcome a deceased person's spirit back into the family. Shona prayers, poetry and words of praise are recited.

The mbira and players qualified to play at such occasions take center stage as the ultimate vehicle to communicating with the spirits. The skill and endurance of mbira players persuades the spirit to possess a living spirit medium.

It is during such a ceremony that ancestral spirits listen to the concerns of their living family members as well as impart to them the wisdom, advice, forgotten family customs and protocol to ensure a healthy and successful family or community.

To play the mbira, the right little finger is placed in the hole in the bottom-right of the soundboard, the middle and ring fingers are placed
behind the instrument. This leaves the right thumb and index finger
free to play the keys.

The keys on the mbira are played with the two thumbs plucking down and the right forefinger plucking up.

Mbiras are tuned in a non-Western, heptatonic scale
(based on a seven-tone scale) - Similiar to a western Mixolydian mode.

It's a major scale with the seventh scale degree flatted
(lowerered one half-step).

Mbiras are played with the thumbs and index finger while the
Kalimba is played with just the thumbs.

Kalimba vs Mbira...

In an effort to spread an awareness of Africa's vast musical heritage, 
Hugh Tracey created an adaptation of the Mbira, known as the Kalimba


The Mbira was invented over 1,000 years ago - 

Mbira has been played for centuries at religious rituals, royal courts, and
social occasions, probably dating to as far back when Africans first learned
to forge metal.

Hugh Tracey found about 100 different varieties of Mbira throughout
Africa, from the simplest ones of the Bushmen tribes with 6 notes to the complex models of Zimbabwe, some with over 30 notes.

The mbira and all its related instruments were still largely unknown to the rest of the world, yet they made such beautiful and entrancing music.

In an effort to spread an awareness of Africa's vast musical heritage, 
Hugh Tracey decided to create an adaptation of the mbira.

It would be a blend of the traditional African idea of the mbira but with a western scale. It would be true to its roots in that it would play beautiful and spiritual music, yet accessible to an international audience.

The Kalimba was designed to be appreciated internationally. 
Hugh Tracey redesigned the Mbira and designed the Kalimba.
Hugh Tracey is the inventor of the Kalimba and the term "Kalimba(TM)"
is actually a registered trademark name.

Hugh Tracey created the Kalimba so that it's melodies and harmonies, 
would be more suited for the Western traditions of music by using a 
7 tone diatonic scale. 

The major diatonic (seven-note) scale, in key of C, is: C D E F G A B C. 
Expressed in Italian syllables, that is: do re mi fa sol la ti do. 

His brilliant design of the kalimba makes playing simple tunes easy and satisfying, by using a diatonic scale. Harmonies and vibrato can be added simultaneously giving a pleasing harmonic sound. 

This allows musicians all over the world to enjoy the instrument.

Mbira	Kalimba

Mbiras are tuned in a non-Western scale similiar to a western  Mixolydian mode (major scale with the seventh degree flatted). 

As an example, on a Kalimba going from left to right starting  from the center note, (which comes pre-tuned in the key of G Major)  the notes are: B, D, F#, A, C, E, G, B, D. (The skipped notes are located on the left side of the instrument).

On an Mbira, going from left to right starting from top row center, the notes are: B, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.
This is known as "regular," "standard," or "Nyamaropa" tuning  (pronounced (nee-yahm-ah-RO-pah) - "Meat and Blood." 

Many different tunings are availale on an Mbira.

A very common tuning starting on the top row of keys (left to right) is: A G F E C D G - B G A B C D E F G A

The notes on the left side bottom (bass) notes are:
A F E D C B G

This is known as "regular," "standard," or "Nyamaropa" tuning (pronounced (nee-yahm-ah-RO-pah) - "Meat and Blood." 

You'll notice there are no sharps and flats (black notes on a piano) making some Western melodies difficult or impossible to play.

AMI - (African Musical Instruments) - are the makers of the original  Hugh Tracey Kalimba. AMI was founded in 1955 and the  Hugh Tracey Kalimba was their first musical instrument product.  

Over the years AMI has expanded their product line to include a close
relative of the Mbira, called the Karimba. The 2 rows of tines on the
Karimba have been laid out in a centuries old traditional African system.

The Karimba has 2 rows of notes similar to the mbira from Zimbabwe.
It has 17 tines organized in two rows. 

At first glance the organization isn't logical.

The notes don't fall on the exact western intervals. However, the Karimba comes tuned to G major so it can play with the other types of kalimba. 

As you begin to play the Karimba, you find that the inherent logic of this instrument makes anyone sound like traditional African musicians!

Traditionally used in ceremonies to speak with one's ancestors in Shona ceremonies, this instrument has a lot of soul built into it.

The buzz is considered an essential part of the mbira sound, required to clear the mind of thoughts and worries so that the mbira music can fill the consciousness of the performers and listeners.

      
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