Re: [MMM] african harps

Hey Jeff!

Thanks for harping on it! Quite the exhaustive list you have.

So, I've been having a harp time finding any info on how to build a Kora.
Does anyone know where I could find a book or web-info?

Thanks.
GZ

"X. J. Scott" wrote:

>
> Here are some possibilities:
>
> 1) ardin, Mauritania
> 2) ennagna, Uganda
>
> -- both these are 'spoon in a cup' designs. A long
> stick coming into a bowl with a skin across it. A cross
> bar attaches to the long stick and goes across the
> bowl. Looks a bit like a sailboat, with the strings as
> the sail coming down from the long stick (neck or mast
> I suppose) and attacking to the short cross stick (the
> boom! :-) ). Tuning pegs on the mast.
>

Z-man,

> So, I've been having a harp time finding any info on how to
> build a Kora.

> Does anyone know where I could find a book or web-info?

I've got a fair number of books on instrument building
but none include african harps. I do have a number of
books with photographs and drawings as well as pictures
I have taken myself. For my xalam/banjar project, I was
planning to just sort of improvise, with account taken
of my ability to grow/collect the necessary materials
on-farm - gourds, sticks, goat skins. The basic design
seems pretty simple.

- Jeff

Yea, I figure I just need to see one and study it awhile.

Thanks.
Z-dude

"X. J. Scott" wrote:

> Z-man,
>
> > So, I've been having a harp time finding any info on how to
> > build a Kora.
>
> > Does anyone know where I could find a book or web-info?
>
> I've got a fair number of books on instrument building
> but none include african harps. I do have a number of
> books with photographs and drawings as well as pictures
> I have taken myself. For my xalam/banjar project, I was
> planning to just sort of improvise, with account taken
> of my ability to grow/collect the necessary materials
> on-farm - gourds, sticks, goat skins. The basic design
> seems pretty simple.
>
> - Jeff
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

> Yea, I figure I just need to see one and study it awhile.

>> I've got a fair number of books on instrument building
>> but none include african harps.

Z-dude,

I was wrong actually.

There's a cookery harp - an african design but made
from an oven roasting pan on pg 115-122 of Hopkin's
"Making Simple Musical Instruments". Top of pan is
covered with 1/8" plywood soundboard. Neck comes up
straight from one end of pan then forepillar comes from
top of neck to opposite end of pan. 12 strings run from
tuning pegs along neck down to soundboard, parallel to
the forepillar. They enter the soundboard through
grommetted holes across entire soundboard, into the
sound chamber, through holes on bottom, and anchored
here with washers.

There's an african *lyre* on pg 93-94 of "Making and
Playing Musical Instruments", Botermans Dewit &
Goddefroy. Think tambourine with two sticks impaling it
and joining a crossbar with 3 tuning pegs. Strings
cross drum head bridge and attach to bottom in manner
of a banjo.

- Jeff

This linko is pretty cool, with good links to boot.

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/harpkora.htm

Good LUCK!

GZ

"X. J. Scott" wrote:

> > Yea, I figure I just need to see one and study it awhile.
>
> >> I've got a fair number of books on instrument building
> >> but none include african harps.
>
> Z-dude,
>
> I was wrong actually.
>
> There's a cookery harp - an african design but made
> from an oven roasting pan on pg 115-122 of Hopkin's
> "Making Simple Musical Instruments". Top of pan is
> covered with 1/8" plywood soundboard. Neck comes up
> straight from one end of pan then forepillar comes from
> top of neck to opposite end of pan. 12 strings run from
> tuning pegs along neck down to soundboard, parallel to
> the forepillar. They enter the soundboard through
> grommetted holes across entire soundboard, into the
> sound chamber, through holes on bottom, and anchored
> here with washers.
>
> There's an african *lyre* on pg 93-94 of "Making and
> Playing Musical Instruments", Botermans Dewit &
> Goddefroy. Think tambourine with two sticks impaling it
> and joining a crossbar with 3 tuning pegs. Strings
> cross drum head bridge and attach to bottom in manner
> of a banjo.
>
> - Jeff
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

George!
I have a busted one in my basement which is promised elsewhere but could
serve well as a model, but cousin Jeff will have to help you with the proper
rituals :)

George Zelenz wrote:

> Hey Jeff!
>
> Thanks for harping on it! Quite the exhaustive list you have.
>
> So, I've been having a harp time finding any info on how to build a Kora.
> Does anyone know where I could find a book or web-info?
>
> Thanks.
> GZ
>
> "X. J. Scott" wrote:
>
> >
> > Here are some possibilities:
> >
> > 1) ardin, Mauritania
> > 2) ennagna, Uganda
> >
> > -- both these are 'spoon in a cup' designs. A long
> > stick coming into a bowl with a skin across it. A cross
> > bar attaches to the long stick and goes across the
> > bowl. Looks a bit like a sailboat, with the strings as
> > the sail coming down from the long stick (neck or mast
> > I suppose) and attacking to the short cross stick (the
> > boom! :-) ). Tuning pegs on the mast.
> >
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria island
http://www.anaphoria.com

The Wandering Medicine Show
Wed. 8-9 KXLU 88.9 fm

Great! I'm Coming over!

Kraig Grady wrote:

> George!
> I have a busted one in my basement which is promised elsewhere but could
> serve well as a model, but cousin Jeff will have to help you with the proper
> rituals :)
>
> George Zelenz wrote:
>
> > Hey Jeff!
> >
> > Thanks for harping on it! Quite the exhaustive list you have.
> >
> > So, I've been having a harp time finding any info on how to build a Kora.
> > Does anyone know where I could find a book or web-info?
> >
> > Thanks.
> > GZ
> >
> > "X. J. Scott" wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Here are some possibilities:
> > >
> > > 1) ardin, Mauritania
> > > 2) ennagna, Uganda
> > >
> > > -- both these are 'spoon in a cup' designs. A long
> > > stick coming into a bowl with a skin across it. A cross
> > > bar attaches to the long stick and goes across the
> > > bowl. Looks a bit like a sailboat, with the strings as
> > > the sail coming down from the long stick (neck or mast
> > > I suppose) and attacking to the short cross stick (the
> > > boom! :-) ). Tuning pegs on the mast.
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
> -- Kraig Grady
> North American Embassy of Anaphoria island
> http://www.anaphoria.com
>
> The Wandering Medicine Show
> Wed. 8-9 KXLU 88.9 fm
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Kraig Grady wrote:

> George!
> I have a busted one in my basement which is promised elsewhere but
> could
> serve well as a model, but cousin Jeff will have to help you with the
> proper
> rituals :)
>
> George Zelenz wrote:
>
> > Hey Jeff!
> >
> > Thanks for harping on it! Quite the exhaustive list you have.
> >
> > So, I've been having a harp time finding any info on how to build a
> Kora.
> > Does anyone know where I could find a book or web-info?
> >
> > Thanks.
> > GZ
> >
> > "X. J. Scott" wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Here are some possibilities:
> > >
> > > 1) ardin, Mauritania
> > > 2) ennagna, Uganda
> > >
> > > -- both these are 'spoon in a cup' designs. A long
> > > stick coming into a bowl with a skin across it. A cross
> > > bar attaches to the long stick and goes across the
> > > bowl. Looks a bit like a sailboat, with the strings as
> > > the sail coming down from the long stick (neck or mast
> > > I suppose) and attacking to the short cross stick (the
> > > boom! :-) ). Tuning pegs on the mast.
>
>
> Though not strictly a harp, the simple styrofoam "cello" design could
> be modified. See the bottom of : -

> http://windworld.com/emi/articles/laplante.htm

BTW, New Ancient Strings by Toumani Diabate and Ballake Sissoko is one
of the most beautiful Kora albums I've ever heard.

Best Wishes