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by Yonas Abebe...enjoy the amahric station in the background...
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Various Ethiopian artists!
13/07/2007
Music of Ethiopia - An azmari (Ethiopian minstrel) playing a masenqo in a tejbeit The music of Ethiopia is extremely diverse, with each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups being associated with unique sounds. Some forms of traditional music are strongly influenced by Muslim and folk music from elsewhere in the Horn of Africa, especially Somalia. However, Ethiopian religious music also has an ancient Christian element, traced to Yared, who lived during the reign of Gabra Masqal. In northeastern Ethiopia, in Wollo, a Muslim musical form called manzuma developed. Sung in Amharic, manzuma has spread to Harar and Jimma, where it is now sung in the Oromo language. In the Ethiopian Highlands, traditional secular music is played by itinerant musicians called azmaris, who are regarded with both suspicion and respect in Ethiopian society. Music theory The music of the highlands uses a unique modal system called qenet, of which there are four main modes: tezeta, bati, ambassel, and anchihoy.[1] Two additional modes are variations on the above: tezeta minor and bati major. Some songs take the name of their qenet, such as tezeta, a song of reminiscence.[1] When played on traditional instruments, these modes are generally not tempered (that is, the pitches may deviate slightly from the Western tempered tuning system), but when played on Western instruments such as pianos and guitars they are played using the Western tempered tuning system. Highland music is generally monophonic or heterophonic.[1] Outside of the highlands, some music is polyphonic; Dorze polyphonic singing (edho) may employ up to five parts.[1]Musical instruments Chordophones In the highlands, traditional string instruments include the masenqo, a one-string bowed lute; the krar, a six-string lyre; and the begena, a large ten-string lyre.[2] The dita (a five-string lyre) and musical bows (including an unusual three-string variant) are among the chordophones found in the south.[2] Aerophones The washint is a bamboo flute that is common in the highlands.[2] Trumpet-like instruments include the ceremonial malakat used in some regions, and the holdudwa (animal horn; compare shofar) found mainly in the south.[2] Embilta flutes have no finger holes, and produce only two tones, the fundamental and a fourth or fifth interval.[2] These may be metal (generally found in the north) or bamboo (in the south).[2] The Konso and other people in the south play fanta, or pan flutes. Idiophones In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, liturgical music employs the senasel, a sistrum.[2] Additionally, the clergy will use prayer staffs, or maqwamiya, to maintain rhythm.[2] Rural churches historically used a dawal, made from stone slabs or pieces of wood, in order to call the faithful to prayer.[2] The Beta Israel use a small gong called a qachel as liturgical accompaniment, though qachel may also refer to a small bell.[2] The tom, a lamellophone, is used among the Nuer and Anuak.[2] Metal leg rattles are common throughout the south.[2] Membranophones The kebero is a large hand drum used in the Orthodox Christian liturgy.[2] Smaller kebero drums may be used in secular celebrations.[2] The nagarit, played with a curved stick, is usually found in a secular context such as royal functions or the announcement of proclamations, though it has a liturgical function among the Beta Israel.[2] The Gurage and other southern peoples commonly play the atamo, a small hand drum sometimes made of clay.[2]
