Something completely different, as it were. In celebration of many things, including the arrival of the Orpharion (fant fretted steel strung box-bodied resonator baritone ukulele, see picture), the end of a massive project arranging mbira music for the Guitaret (and therefore other instruments as well owing to the wonders of Lilypond and Frescobaldi and MusicXML) and Mbira music (chiefly Shona here but other places as well) Here is the pdf of the booklet. I have printed it out for my own use on a3 duplexed as a booklet. 1drv.ms/1v3uQ9i I include midi files as well to check what you are aiming for 1drv.ms/1v3tDi3 Regarding the instrument: These pieces are arranged for the orpharion , a hybrid instrument I dreamed up for playing the mbira music on—it is essentially a steel string fan-fretted baritone ukulele in R435 open D tuning, with a rectangular box body. The pieces can all be played on any R435-tuned ukulele. In my original conception it was a hybrid of the 16th century orpharion (a fan-fretted steel strung plucked instrument invented by John Rose in England in 1581 — see page 4) and the open-tuned box-bodied kabosy/mandaliny of Madagascar, which has such a magical sound and is so rewarding to play. I wanted the steel strings to permit long lasting open notes which were vital to playing the music. I wanted the fan fretting for intonation and reach (and looks!). I wanted the rectangular box for its rich yet dry sound, its low centre of gravity, and its ability to be played acoustically muted (damping with elastic bands near the bridge - DSamys guitarre etouffé style). While figuring out how to I might build it, I found a suitably-adaptable design for a fan-fret resonator guitar at Raulo Luthiers in Puerto Rico — rauloguitars , and had one made for me (pictured above and over). It is an exquisite instrument to look at, listen to and play. Regarding the tuning: These pieces are in an open D-tuning I call Nyamaropa which is R435 (as opposed to my usual favourite Taro Patch which is R543, and Wahine which is R754), but they can be played on any linear uke, any ruan, guitar, banjo or cavaquino. The tablature is (as the White Knight would say) of my own invention, but largely derived from renaissance Cittern and Vihuela tab. I originally had it as pure cittern, but Joanne Simpson said she would never be able to read it. So this is a compromise but better I feel that regular guitar tab which I find cluttered and ugly. Sorry. Regarding the pieces This is a collection of arrangements of Southern African mbira music, chiefly from the Shona music culture. The arrangements came about as a result of scoring/tabbing a lot of mbira music for Guitaret and Pianet duet, and the realisation that some really beautiful pieces were playable on the ukulele if it was in a suitable tuning. Since there are a lot of ukuleles about, and ukulele enthusiast looking for new music, and since exposure to the music might introduce people to (and possibly take up playing) the mbira, I thought it was worth releasing these arrangements as a collection. They are of varying difficulty, but most are relatively easy. I have made sure that they are comfortable to reach in every way. Of course, this collection is a very small sample of the repertoire: there are so many other wonderful tunes (such as Bangiza, Nhemakonde, Nhemamusasa, Nyamaropa, Nyamamusango) that simply cant adapt to the ukulele no matter what tuning it is in. And there is no substitute for learning the proper instruments, from a teacher, in a traditional context. A good place to start with this approach is Erica Azims MBIRA organisation, at mbira.org. Alternatively, if you prefer self-study, I highly recommend getting a Hugh Tracey Karimba from Kalimba Magic (kalimbamagic), together with Mark Holdaways tutor Playing the Hugh Tracey Karimba and collection 10 Traditional African Pieces for Karimba (some of which are also in this collection). Get one as soon as possible, and keep it in your pocket or purse for the rest of your life. I have.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:35:57 +0000
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