Masenqo

Masenqo

Azmari playing masenqo in a tejbeit, Lalibela, northern Ethiopia
String instrument
Classification	chordophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	321.311 (spike bowed lute)
Related instruments
krar

A masinko (left) and krar (right) from Ethopia.

The masenqo (also spelled masenko or masinqo) is a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Ethiopia and Eritrea.^[1] As with the krar, this instrument is used by Ethiopian minstrels called azmaris ("singer" in Amharic) ^[2]. Although it functions in a purely accompaniment capacity in songs, the masenqo requires considerable virtuosity^[1], as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.

Construction and Design

The square- or diamond-shaped resonator is made of four small wooden boards glued together, then covered with a stretched parchment or rawhide. The single string is typically made of horse hair, and passes over a bridge. The instrument is tuned by means of a large tuning peg to fit the range of the singer's voice.^[3]It may be bowed by either the right or left hand, and the non-bow hand sits lightly on top of the upper part of the string.

See also

• Music of Africa
• Music of Ethiopia
• Music of Eritrea

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Shelemay, Kay Kaufman. "Ethiopia", The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. S. Sadie and J. Tyrrell (London: Macmillan, 2001), viii, pp. 355-356.
2. ^ Kebede, Ashenafi (January, 1975). "The "Azmari", Poet-Musician of Ethiopia". The Musical Quarterly 61 (1). 
3. ^ Teferra, Timkehet (2009). "The One-Stringed Fiddle Masinqo: Its Function and Role in Contemporary Ethiopian Music and its Future". Horizon Ethiopia. http://www.horizonethiopia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=288:the-masinqo&catid=28:music&Itemid=80. Retrieved 12 Sept 2011.