- Krar
The "krar" is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped
lyre fromEritrea andEthiopia . The instrument is tuned to apentatonic scale. A modern "krar" may be amplified, much in the same way as anelectric guitar or violin.The "krar", a
chordophone , is usually decorated with wood, cloth, andbead s. Its five or six strings determine the available pitches. The instrument's tone depends on the musician's playing technique: bowing, strumming or plucking. If plucked, the instrument will produce a soft tone.Strum ming, on the other hand, will yield a harmoniouspulsation . The "krar" is often played by musician-singers called "azmari " and accompanieslove song s and secular songs, which makes it an enjoyable accompaniment to a cozy meal.Resources
* Asnakech Worku, "
Ethiopiques 16: The Lady with the Krar" (compact disc). Buda Musique 822652, 2003.
* "Ethiopie, chants d'amour" (Ethiopia, Love Songs). Fantahun Shewankochew, vocals and krar (compact disc). INEDIT/Maison des Cultures du Monde W260080, 1998.Bibliography
*Kebede, Ashenafi, [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0014-1836(197709)21%3A3%3C379%3ATBONAK%3E2.0.CO%3B2-9 "The Bowl-Lyre of Northeast Africa. Krar: The Devil's Instrument"] , Ethnomusicology, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Sep., 1977), pp. 379-395. (Subscription link.)
Films
*"HELP! – Musikalische Geschichten aus Äthiopien". Directed by Daniel Schulz. [http://www.kino-kombat.com/partners_schulz.html]
External links
* [http://tezeta.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=1 The Krar by Red Ross]
Listening
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/features/africa/einskrar.shtml Krar page] from BBC Music site
ee also
*
Tanbura
*Temesgen
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