CLASSICAL MUSIC AFRICA BEAUTIFUL (toumani diabate playing the kora))

KORA INSTRUMENT / AFRICAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be described as a double bridge harp lute. The sound of a kora resembles that of a harp, though when played in the traditional style, it bears a closer resemblance to flamenco and delta blues guitar techniques. The player uses only the thumb and index finger of both hands to pluck the strings in polyrhythmic patterns (using the remaining fingers to secure the instrument by holding the hand posts on either side of the strings). Ostinato riffs ("Kumbengo") and improvised solo runs ("Birimintingo") are played at the same time by skilled players.

Kora players have traditionally come from griot families (also from the Mandinka nationalities) who are traditional historians, genealogists and storytellers who pass their skills on to their descendants. The instrument is played in Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso and The Gambia. A traditional kora player is called a Jali, similar to a 'bard' or oral historian. Most West African musicians prefer the term 'jali' to 'griot', which is the French word.

Traditional koras feature 21 strings, eleven played by the left hand and ten by the right. Modern koras made in the Casamance region of southern Senegal sometimes feature additional bass strings, adding up to four strings to the traditional 21. Strings were traditionally made from thin strips of hide, for example antelope skin - now most strings are made from harp strings or nylon fishing line, sometimes plaited together to create thicker strings.

By moving leather tuning rings up and down the neck, a kora player can retune the instrument into one of four seven-note scales. These scales are close in tuning to western Major, Minor and Lydian modes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• symphony
• mozart
• rap
• hip hop
• dancehall
• reggae
• black history
• west africa

[GeetarTennis]

Tender loving music.  Hope for the world. Thank you, Toumani.

[abyssicknight]

Someone please tell me why more people are not listening to this song? Really thinking about what it is saying to all humankind, what the feeling this ancient song teaches us all. I am so awed and humbled and just amazed that a people think in music in such a way, i feel like i do not know anything about music at all.

[rajeshbedi28]

This Instrument is called KORO, it is originated in Senegal, as legend goes one hunter listed it in a forest. He loved the music so much that he wanted to have it and master, he found it was owned by a Ginny. He finally convinced her to marry him and make him learn the instrument. It is hyper melodious instrument. Amazing Amazing , it takes you places

[christiliebe]

Whowww ...... heaven on earth .... 1000 Tx

[sidi0258]

incredible instrument..sounds very lovely!! thank you for such music!!!sidi

[milanmusicmaker]

So peacefull

[japansekip]

true listing music. Only for the serious people

[hoibit]

72 generations of Kora players in his family. Think about that.

There is a reason why the music speaks to you. I wish my American heritage could value such tradition and history and value the elders and learn from the young through their "new eyes" and not take anything for granted.

I can only go back 3 generations and know what my forefathers did. That's sad.

[tolerancezero666]

this is amazing. What a curious instrument he is mastering.

[Ruthsnow]

I am listening to it and he plays from his heart and soul. It touches every fibre of my body. Namaste xx