Wai-te-ata Music Press

1990

African Strings for two guitars is sourced from recordings of Madagascan valiha tube zither (movements 2 & 3), and the West African kora harp. The valiha is one of the most characteristic instruments of Madagascar. In its original form it was a bamboo tube zither, the ‘strings’ of which were longitudinal incisions into the skin of the bamboo—the presence of such instruments in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines is one of the keys in the cultural link between Madagascar and South East Asia. The kora harp of 21 strings is played by the griots (praise singers and chroniclers) of Gambia, Senegal, Mali and Guinea Bissau to accompany their singing. In this transcription, the vocal line has been integrated into the instrumental texture. The three movements are titled Ramandriana, Chedo, and Samy Fali. African Strings has been recorded by Norio Sato and Kei Koh on a CD entitled Salut (ALM Records, Tokyo, 2000). Movements 2 & 3 have also been released on the CD Pulse (Rattle, Auckland, 2001).