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About Shona MusicMusic and dance traditions have been deeply ingrained in Shona culture from ancient times. Independence in 1980 from British colonization allowed traditional music that had been suppressed to reemerge so that today, traditional and contemporary Shona music is once again an open and vibrant part of Zimbabwean society and is spreading throughout the world. About Marimba MusicMarimbas are finely crafted xylophones made from hardwoods such as vermilion, mahogany and peduk. The keys are fine-tuned to reflect the tones played in African societies. Each key has a resonator which amplifies the sound, producing a unique musical effect--from the clear, bell-like tones of the soprano marimba to the deep, percussive tones of the bass. Marimbas are about five feet long; their heights vary from two feet to more than five feet. The ensemble of instruments creates music that is exciting to listen to...and wonderful for dancing! The music has a universal quality that appeals all ages and backgrounds. African marimba music sounds unique to North American audiences because most of the marimba music played in the Western Hemisphere has been South American. However, marimbas originated in Africa hundreds of years ago and were imported to South America in the sixteenth century. The original African sounds were incorporated into and changed by the music of the local cultures. It is only within the last twenty years that African marimba music has flourished in the United States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. During most of that time, live marimba music could be heard only in a limited area of the West Coast. More recently, it has expanded nationwide. About Mbira MusicIf there is a musical instrument that could represent the country of Zimbabwe, it would be the mbira. Because traditional culture is highly regarded by the Shona, the significance of the mbira musical heritage is recognized by many Zimbabweans. The mbira has a long history among the Shona, being associated with some of the oldest known music from the ancient kingdoms of Zimbabwe. The instrument plays a prominent role in many types of ceremonies including traditional rituals for communicating with ancestral spirits. The mbira is an idiophone with metal reeds attached to a board which are plucked when played. The instrument is similar to the kalimba from Zambia that was introduced into jazz music in the U.S. in the early 1970s and is often improperly referred to as a thumb piano. There are at least eight different types of mbiras found in Zimbabwe, having from eight to fifty-four keys. Mbira music continues to influence contemporary artists in Zimbabwe and musicians performing African music around the world, including Anzanga. Most of the pieces on this recording (all except Sarura Waka Deya Deya and Amandla) draw upon the traditional mbira music from Zimbabwe. Mbira pieces are often played on one or two mbiras, but consist of a multitude of musical lines. Translating the compositions for marimba requires extensive experience to decipher the melodic and rhythmic components of each song and to create interlocking marimba parts which accurately reflect the original version. To the Shona people of Zimbabwe:Your music has blessed us and touched us deeply in many ways. You have opened our minds and hearts, and have inspired us to search deep inside to find the spiritual essence of the music and of ourselves. Thank you for sharing the joy of life through your music and teachings. |
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