Mbila (musical instrument)

The "Mbila" (plural "Timbila") is a musical instrument of Mozambique, belonging to the idiophone classification within the percussion family of instruments. The instrument is traditionally associated with the Chopi people of the Inhambane Province, in southern Mozambique. [http://www.answers.com/topic/music-of-mozambique] . It is not to be confused with mbira, the thumb piano. [http://www.usd.edu/smm/Africa/African.html] It is related to the xylophone; the latter is believed to have originated in Indonesia. [Bruno Nettl, Music in Primitive Culture, Harvard University Press, 1956, p.98]

tructure and performance

tructure

Early forms were constructed of bars atop a gourd. [http://www.usd.edu/smm/Africa/African.html]

Performance

The mbila is played by striking the bars with mallets. Ensembles of the instrument consist of up to thirteen players playing three types of instrument.

The bass instrument, "Gulu", has three or four wooden keys and is played standing up using heavy mallets with solid rubber heads. Resonance and amplification is achieved through a tuned gourd mounted under each key. In a full orchestra, such as that of Venancio Mbande, two Gulu instruments would be played.

The tenor instrument, "Dibinda", has ten keys and is played seated. A complete orchestra would have three dibinda.

The mbila itself has up to nineteen keys, and up to eight may be played simultaneously. Both the Mbila and Dibinda achieve sound amplification using resonators made from the spherical hard shells of the Masala Apple, one mounted under each key.

The tuning of any key is achieved through first roasting the wood around a fire and then shaping the key to achieve the desired tone. The resonator is tuned to the key through i. the careful choice of size of resonator, ii. the adjustment of the diameter of the mouth of the resonator using wasp wax, and iii. adjustment of the height of the key above the resonator. A skilled mibila maker can produce startling levels of sound amplification. The mallets used to play dibinda and mbila have heads made from natural rubber taken from a wild creeping plant [http://www.answers.com/topic/music-of-mozambique]

The pieces that the ensembles play are called "Mgodo" and consist of about 10 pieces of music grouped into 4 separate movements. The longest and most important of these is the "Mzeno" which will include a song telling of an issue of local importance or even making fun of a prominent figure in the community. The ensemble leaders set their choice for the variation of the composition. Individual performers partially improvise their playing performance. [http://www.answers.com/topic/music-of-mozambique]

Individual performers famous as mbila performers:

* Eduardo Durão
* Venancio Mbande [http://www.answers.com/topic/music-of-mozambique] [http://www.pointofdeparture.org/archives/PoD-9/PoD9AfricanHeartbeats.html]

References and external links

*Nettl, Bruno (1956). "Music in Primitive Culture". Harvard University Press.
*Paco, Celso. "A Luta Continua". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), "World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East", pp 579-584. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
*Tracey, Hugh. (1948, reprinted 1970). "Chopi Musicians: their Music, Poetry, and Instruments." London: International African Institute and Oxford University Press. SBN 19 724182 4.
* [http://hallisfilms.com Hallis, Ron and Hallis, Ophera.] (1987). "Chopi Music of Mozambique." 28 minutes. 16 mm Video.
* [http://art.media.psu.edu/moreInfo_50484VH.html The 1973 Mgodo wa Mbanguzi] A complete performance of traditional music and dance composed by a Chopi village in southern Mozambique. Produced by Gei Zantzinger and Andrew Tracey.
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005OMC0 Timbila Ta Venancio] Venancio Mbande album at Amazon
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000645J4/ Timbila] Eduardo Durão album at Amazon.
* [http://www.ctmd.org/ Center for Traditional Music and Dance]
* [http://www.mukondeni.com/html/Mbila.htm Representations of the mbila in Mukondeni Art Gallery, South Africa]

ee also

*Marimba
*Music of Mozambique
*Xylophone

References