Frame zither
| Liberian frame zither with calabash resonator Liberian zither with calabash resonator. Called a "harp" by its collector; however, on a harp the "plane of the strings lies perpendicular to the resonator's surface." The strings running parallel to the gourd resonator make this a frame zither under Hornbostel-Sachs. | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | belly harp |
| Classification | Plucked string instrument |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 316
|
| Inventor | folk instrument |
Frame zither is a class of musical instrument (subset of zither) within the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system for a type of simple chordophone (stringed instrument), in which the body of the instrument is made from a frame.[1]
Frame zithers are musical instruments in which strings are strung across an open frame.[2] They could be similar to harps and psalteries which can also have strings stretched across frames. However, in harps the strings run from the frame to a resonating table embedded into the frame on the frame's other end. Psalteries may also have a frame, but behind the strings (parallel to them) is a board, the top of a box which acts as a resonator.
Musicians may add a resonator as is done with a bow harp; they can attach or put the instrument into a calabash gourd or a ceramic pot.[3]
Under the Hornbostel-Sachs system of musical instrument classification, any frame with strings stretched across, and without a built in resonator, would count as a frame zither. In musical instrument encyclopedias, however, there are few or no examples of frame zithers except those found in Africa. Potential examples include medieval European illustrations; these however are not clear and could equally illustrate forms of harps or psalteries.[1]
Africa
[edit | edit source]Triangular
[edit | edit source]African frame zithers are made with frames of three "arms" forming a triangle, or a round frame made of wood.[3] Two of the arms are inserted into a calabash gourd base, with the base of the gourd cut away.[4] The gourd acts as a resonator.[4] The instrument is played by holding the opening in the resonator against the player's chest or stomach, with the instrument being within reach of their arms.[4][5][6]
The main known example are instruments of the Kru people of Liberia. They may also be seen in Sierra Leone and Guinea.[4]
Round
[edit | edit source]Another form of African frame zither uses a round frame or hoop, with the strings stretched across it.[3] Women of the Nuba people of Sudan make round frame-zithers, by bending a stick into a hoop, spanned 3 or four times by a single string (forming individual lengths to play).[3] The instrument is placed on top of a gourd for resonance.[3]
Recordings
[edit | edit source]- Belly Harp. Folk Music of Liberia, Folkways FE 4465 (Side ll, band 3)[7]
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A loma belly harp, played by the Crau, Crau, Krao, Krawi, Kru, Nana peoples of West Africa.
References
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