Cassana 🍻
The valiha, the national #Instrument of Madagascar, is a tube zither made from bamboo with 21 to 24 strings. These run over small moveable calabash or wooden bridges, and were traditionally made from bamboo strips, but later unwound bicycle brake cable, piano wire, and guitar strings were used. The name valiha is sometimes also used for related zithers like the marovany, a box zither considered to be an evolution of the valiha.
#Music #Ethnomusicology #WorldMusic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p0-9OmfS_A
Justin Vali | Chant, valiha, marovany (Madagascar) | MIMA #13

YouTube
Jul 18 at 8:38amWeb
Show threadJohn MooreJul 18
@cassana Hello, Cassana. I have been shamefully remiss in not letting you know that I really appreciate the gems you keep unearthing and your enlightening commentaries. I always enjoy them.
Show threadCassana 🍻Jul 18
@jdmyeepa Thank you! Hope all’s well?
Show threadJohn MooreJul 18
@cassana Yes, thanks, everything's fine. Hope things are good with you, too.
Show threadCassana 🍻Jul 19
@jdmyeepa Things are going well, yes.
Show threadgmokeJul 19
@cassana Loved the sound of the valiha for more than 50 years. I fool around with making my own versions of a tubular harp with bamboo or tin cans and screws, sometimes using the wire from bike cables or nylon fishing line. It is always magical to play them even though I've never tuned one up completely.
Show threadCassana 🍻Jul 19
@gmoke Awesome! It’s an instrument that doesn’t get as much recofgnition as it deserves IMHO. And yeah, technically the idea of a tube zither is pretty simple, though I think I’ve at least heard three people talking about tuning difficulties so far.