Kalimba Mbira Sansa Likembe Thumb Piano Lamellaphone

Kalimbas, mbiras, marimbulas and experimental instruments by RP Collier. A swift slide show with soundtrack made using some of the instruments pictured.
This is a portion of the photo set at http://tinyurl.com/yt8f8j

Soundtrack tunes available on album: Future in Sepia
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rpcollier6

2008 all thumb piano audio album:
Lamellaphone at http://cdbaby.com/cd/rpcollier4
http://www.doncampau.com/lw2007.htm

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kalimba
• Mbira
• Sansa
• Likembe
• Thumb
• Piano
• Lamellaphone
• RP
• Collier
• world
• music

[polarityrecords]

Your creations are wonderful: this slideshow is thoroughly enjoyable. I'm wondering one thing: I notice many of your instruments have really long keys, that stick out way past the bridge point. Do these sound different from instruments with shorter keys?

Also just curious: Do you have no interest in the sympathetic rattle-creating metal bands around the keys that are a common feature of African sanzas, etc?

Anyway, fabulous stuff, man, really impressive.

[tynego]

@polarityrecords

Thanks for your comments.

The long tines are mostly for visual design, it can affect the sound but usually not radically, depends on the resonator and tuning.

The buzzing or mirliton function has been explored with things like bits of wire etc. inside the resonator thus often not visible. Also, the long tines can be arranged to rattle against each other.

[Jamoflage]

What do you use to make the tines?

[tynego]

In the info section to the right, the tiny url link will take you to the photo set where you can click on a photo for details of the tines used for the instrument pictured.

Mostly: blue tempered spring steel, hairpins, street sweeper bristles, electrician snake, bike spokes, umbrella ribs, etc.

[TheSleepingVillage]

at 5.04 what makes that noise? i really wonna know

[tynego]

That is a pitch shifter. I don't have notes on that song but I think it was a BOSS PS-5 Super Shifter set to Tremolo Arm mode.

[MsCPrincess1]

I grew up playing these as a child in the DR Congo (then known as Zaire). What a delight to see your artistic variations. I really enjoyed listening to the playing as well. Floods of memories. I'm heading home this summer. Hopefully I'll be able to find some traditional ones to bring back to the US for memory sake. Thank you for your slides and music.

[chipontachipon]

@tynego Hey! Thanks for the info! I love to make instruments with junk and already made some kalimbas, but always have problems to find nice tines. Now I´ve got a list to try different materials thanks too you. ; ) wonderful work, thanks again for sharing!!

[01herman]

nice collection!

[wekilledthegost]

Ah, nice to hear them and nice to see them. Makes me smile. Thanks.

[hexenductionhour]

Nice. Tom Waits anyone?

[docludi]

Very different. Very enjoyable

[mellotrongirl]

Now that I know where to get the materials to make one, no metal recycling facility, streetsweeper, bicycle or person weilding an umbrella on a rainy day in my town will be safe...