demo: Celeste Alto Kalimba

http://www.kalimbamagic.com/alto

The Hugh Tracey Celeste Alto Kalimba, played by Mark Holdaway

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Hugh
• Tracey
• Celeste
• Alto
• Kalimba
• AMI
• African
• Musical
• Instruments
• Music
• Mark
• Holdaway
• kalimbamagic

[zeroEDJE]

Did you cut the gourd your self.? How big was the gourd because I'm planning to cut my own to amplify the sound of my kalimba. Whats best?

[kalimbamagic]

Yes, this gourd is just under 12 inches across, and I cut like 1/3 off of it, leaving the "belly button", which

actually has some extra material inside the gourd - I cut off half of that extra stuff to make a small shelf which helps to hold the kalimba.

[davejive]

This is truly astonishing!!! You play like a virtuoso. I'm from South Africa, so I've these and heard these instruments often enough, but you still amaze me. BTW, I personally aren't all that fond of the rattling myself, but I do understand that it's cultural.. Do you have any of these instruments with authentic pelog and slendro tuning? I'd love to get my hands on those if I can find them.

[kalimbamagic]

Dave, No, I had never thought of putting these int Gamelon tunings before. While it is totally possible to do something like that yourself (the tines slide in and out to be higher or lower pitch), I myself would avoid that: When I first started Kalimba Magic, there was someone selling Indonesian-made kalimbas for National Geographic, and they were claiming the kalimba was a traditional Indonesian instrument. I called them on it, and they changed their ad. -Mark

[theaaroneason]

Why no noisemakers on the gourd?

[kalimbamagic]

Well, I have no mentor or mbira community - I am sort of figuring this out on my own from first principles, evolving step by step. I first cut this gourd open two years ago, and I just recently figured out to add the guitar strap to the gourd - I can play while walking now. I would not have done that had I been following someone else's ideas. I have thought about buzzers, but the right thing hasn't hit me. There is some degree of buzz just by being in contact with the gourd. Good question.

[zeroEDJE]

@kalimbamagic How tall was your gourd , whats the circumference? do you have any recommendation or precautions I should take?

[droga187]

damn sounds so "beach and sands and sunny day with weed on my hand"

[Phacias]

Hahahaha, very enjoyable!

[nzgoddess]

I've been watching your video's and reading your website all afternoon, and I have to say I am beyond impressed - and inspired!

Only thing is I watch one clip and decide that's the kalimba I'll get, then watch another and change my mind - they are all so wonderful :)