Z is for Zither

A zither is any stringed musical instrument whose strings are the same length as its soundboard. There are many styles of zithers. Typically it is composed of a flat sound box with 30 to 40 strings stretched over it and played horizontally with the fingertips, a plectrum, or a bow.

The yatga is a traditional Mongolian plucked half-tube zither and can have 10-21 strings with movable bridges. When I was in Ulaanbaatar, I heard this woman play a 12-string yatga.

Ulaanbaatar, 2007

If you'd like to hear the sound, here is a 23-second video taken in the same small theatre you see in my photo. This tune sounds to me like a pleasant traditional folk song. For a more sophisticated sound, listen to this award-winning player on what looks to be a 21-string yatga.

This is my Z contribution to ABC Wednesday. Check out how others fared with this challenging letter.

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To my regular blogger friends, tomorrow I will slip behind the Great Firewall of China, so I may be unable to post or visit any blogs for the next 10-12 days. See you when I return!

E is for Entertainment

To be honest with you, I'm usually a titch cynical about "cultural" shows put on for tourists. But we were in Ulaanbaatar on a special mission and we could not say "no" to our hosts when they suggested we go. A nudge is sometimes a blessing. 

The show of traditional Mongolian musicians, singers, dancers and acrobats in a small intimate theater turned out to be one of the delightful highlights of our stay in the capital.

 

 

 Ulaanbaatar, 2007

If you'd really like to be entertained here today, I gladly nudge you to visit this video (after you say hello to me) and learn a little about the music made with the two-stringed marin whoor (horse-headed violin) that often accompanies khoomii, Mongolian throat singing. It's a treat to the receptive ear.

I'm linking with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Go check out other fun takes on the letter E this week.

D is for Drum

These are exquisite reproductions of the Maranao temple drums that in the past the sultan would use to call his people to town meetings.

 

Manila, 2009

I found them at a native craft market called Tiendesitas, but they were likely made by traditional woodcarvers in Lanao del Sur on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The Maranao tribe, largest of the indigenous Muslim Moro ethnic group, is well-known and admired for their beautiful arts and crafts - weaving, wood and metal craft - as well as their epic literature.

The one question I had that I could not find an answer to is why they are called temple drums when followers of Islam worship in a mosque.

Today I am joining Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday where the letter of the day is D. You'll be surprised how many creative posts "D" can make.

A Busker and His Friend

 Shenzhen, 2010

This busker is playing an old Chinese instrument dating back at least to the Qin Dynasty (200 BC) called the ruan. This old form of pipa with straight-neck and round body was named ruan after a master player of this instrument, Ruan Xian, one of great scholars among "The Seven Gentlemen" in the 3rd Century. 

The Ruan is used in Peking opera, as well as in modern Chinese orchestras. There is a family of ruan of various size with zhong (middle) ruan and da (big) ruan used similarly as the viola and cello in western orchestras. 

If you'd like to hear the sound of the ruan, here is a lovely melody.

Posted for Mary's Sepia Scenes.

I is for Instruments

A mere five kilometers south-west of Kathmandu, on top of a hill, is the small ancient town of Kirtipur, a center of Newari culture. The Newa people are the indigenous people of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. 

I had the good fortune earlier this year to visit the town during its Newa Culture Food Festival. The festival included beautiful music played on a range of instruments.

Nepal, 2010

Today's ABC Wednesday features the letter I and clicking the link will get you to many more links with creative posts on the theme.