Washint

Washint
Woodwind instrument
Classification aerophone
Hornbostel–Sachs classification 421.111.12
(end blown flute)

The washint is an end-blown wooden flute originally used by the Amhara people in Ethiopia. Traditionally, Amharic musicians would pass on their oral history through song accompanied by the washint as well as the krar, a six stringed lyre, and the masenqo, a one string fiddle.[1].

Contents

Construction and Design

The washint can be constructed using wood, bamboo, or other cane. Varieties exists in different lengths and relative fingerhole placement, and a performer might use several different flutes over the course of a performance to accommodate different song types.[2] It generally has four finger-holes, which allows the player to create a pentatonic scale.[3]

Audio Examples and Pictures (External links)

References

  1. ^ Nidel, Richard (2005). World Music: The Basics. Routlidge Taylor & Francis Group, NY. 
  2. ^ Kimberlin, Cynthia Tse (1974). "Ethiopian and Tribal Music". Ethnomusicology Vol. 18, No. 1: p.178. http://www.jstor.org/stable/850080. Retrieved 26 Sept 2011. 
  3. ^ Sárosi, B. (1967). "The Music of Ethiopian Peoples". Studia Musicologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae Vol. 9: p.14. http://www.jstor.org/stable/901579. Retrieved 26 Sept 2011. 

See also