Mbila (musical instrument)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mbila is a musical instrument of Mozambique, belonging to the idiophone classification within the percussion family of instruments. Plural of the instrument is timbila. It is not to be confused with mbira, the thumb piano. [1] It is related to the xylophone; the latter is believed to have originated in Indonesia. ^[1]

1 Structure and performance
- 1.1 Structure
- 1.2 Performance
2 Cultural group associated with performance of the instrument
3 Individual performers famous as timbila performers:
4 References and external links
5 See also

[edit] Structure and performance

[edit] Structure

Early forms were constructed of bars atop a gourd. [2]

[edit] Performance

The mbila is played by striking the bars with mallets.

Ensembles of the instrument consist of about ten timbila players. [3]

The pieces that the ensembles play are ngomi. The ensemble leaders set their choice for the variation of the composition. Individual performers partially improvise their playing performance. [4]

[edit] Cultural group associated with performance of the instrument

The instrument is traditionally associated with the Chopi people of the Inhambane Province. [5]

[edit] Individual performers famous as timbila performers:

Eduardo Durão
Venancio Mbande [6]

[edit] 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.
Hallis, Ron and Hallis, Ophera. (1987). Chopi Music of Mozambique. 28 minutes. 16 mm Video.
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.
Timbila Ta Venancio Venancio Mbande album at Amazon
Timbila Eduardo Durão album at Amazon.
Center for Traditional Music and Dance
Representations of the mbila in Mukondeni Art Gallery, South Africa