A lamellophone (also lamellaphone or linguaphone) is a member of the family of musical instruments that makes its sound by a thin vibrating plate called a lamella or tongue, which is fixed at one end and has the other end free. When the musician depresses the free end of a plate with a finger or fingernail, and then allows the finger to slip off, the released plate vibrates. An instrument may have a single tongue (such as a Jew's harp) or a series of multiple tongues (such as a mbira thumb piano).
Linguaphone comes from the Latin root lingua meaning "tongue", (i.e., a long thin plate that is fixed only at one end). lamellophone comes from the Latin word lamella for "small metal plate",[1] and the Greek word φωνήphonē for "sound, voice".[2]
The lamellophones constitute category 12 in the Hornbostel–Sachs system for classifying musical instruments, plucked idiophones. There are two main categories of plucked idiophones, those that are in the form of a frame (121) and those that are in the form of a comb (122).
A large number of lamellophones originate in Africa, where they are known under different names including mbira, kisanji, likembe, kalimba, kongoma, and sanza. They play a role in southeast African Music. They were reported as early as the 16th century, but there is no doubt they have a much longer history. The Caribbean marímbula is also of this family. The marímbula can be seen as a bass variant of the mbira and is sometimes used in hip hop music.[citation needed]
In most cases the tongues are divided in two playing halves with the lowest notes in the centre; from there to the left and to the right each tongue is tuned higher than the previous one. The tongues may also be arranged in a linear arrangement in the manner of a piano. Tongues may be made small enough to play with individual fingers, hence the colloquial name "thumb piano". (Although some instruments, like the Mbira, have an additional rows of tongues, in which case not just the thumbs are used for plucking.)[4]
Some conjecture that African lamellophones were derived from xylophones and marimbas. However, similar instruments have been found elsewhere; for example, the indigenous peoples of Siberia play wooden and metallic lamellophones with a single tongue.[citation needed]
There is a distinct difference between the piezo and the electro-magnetic pickup. Most electric lamellophones feature piezo pickups. The piezo sound contains more treble and has more problems with feedback when amplified (distorted) heavily. Lucinda Ellison produces a wide range of her Embiras, which are solid body electric mbiras with piezo pickups — a design first conceived in 1981 and finalised in 1996. David Bellinger has been making ekalimbas - kalimbas with piezo pickups - for 20 years.
The Array Mbira is a lamellophone with an alternate tine configuration. It is electrified by the addition of a 2-channel stereo piezo cable pickup system. A special solid-body Array mbira exists.
Ernst Zacharias created a series of electric lamellophones created in the 1960s for Hohner. These instruments were based on the reeds made by Hohner (already employed in accordions, concertinas, melodicas and harmonicas). These instruments were the Pianet (plucked by a foam pad), the Cembalet (plucked by a rubber pad) and the Guitaret (plucked by fingers). The idea of a struck reed tongue had been pioneered by the Alexandre brothers in their "Orgues expressifs" (harmoniums) in the 19th century, where they were called percussion stops.
The Space Harp, or Frankiphone (designed, built and played by Phil Cohran), is a famous instance of an electric lamellophone.
A range of other mbiras and kalimbas have been created by contemporary instrument makers. The African band Konono No.1 uses custom-built electric kalimbas with electro-magnetic pickups. Neptune's Jason Sanford makes electric thumb pianos from scrap in a similar tradition and Yuri Landman has made 12-TET bass kalimbas and metal tongue drums.
Schaeffner's classificationEdit
Plucked/flexible idiophones
Schaeffner's musical instrument classification scheme has a post-prominent place for the linguaphones (lamellophones) at the second highest level of classification.
In 1932, Andre Schaeffner developed a new classification scheme that was "exhaustive, potentially covering all real and conceivable instruments" [Kartomi, p. 176]. Schaeffner's system has only two top-level categories denoted by Roman numerals (Schaeffner, A.: Origine des instruments de musique, pp. 371–377.):
I: instruments that make sound from vibrating solids;
IA Solids not susceptibles of tension (equivalent to a big part of Hornbostel & Sachs idiophones);
IB Flexible solids (equivalent to mainly linguaphones);
121.1 Clack idiophones or Cricri - The lamella is carved in the surface of a fruit shell, which serves as resonator.[5] Also known as galip nut snapper.[6]
121.2 Guimbardes and jaw harps - The lamella is mounted in a rod- or plaque-shaped frame and depends on the player's mouth cavity for resonance.
121.21 Idioglot guimbardes - The lamella is of one substance with the frame of the instrument.
(121.222) A Kouxian, played by plucking the ends in front of the oral cavity. The lamellae resonate to produce sound.
In the form of a comb (122)Edit
Whale Drum with 8 tongues (from Emil Richards Collection)Argentinian quisanche made of wood, has five tempered steel reeds, which are dotted to mark a melodic bass in the Buenos Aires candombe.
The lamellae are tied to a board or cut out from a board like the teeth of a comb.
^Sachs, Curt (1940). The History of Musical Instruments, p.455. W. W. Nortan & Company, Inc. ISBN0-393-02068-1
^MBIRA [Organization]. "Pointers for Mbira Students". MBIRA: The Non-Profit Organization Devoted to Traditional Music of Zimbabwe. Wordpress. Retrieved 14 June 2022. ...Your left thumb plays all of the double row of keys. Your right thumb plays ONLY the farthest left (longest) 3 keys in the single row. Your right index finger plucks up on the rest of the keys in the single row.
^. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Fischer, Hans (1983/1986). Sound-producing Instruments in Oceania, p.52. Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies. ASIN: B0010S35VW.
^ abcdefghijklmnWarner Dietz, Betty; Olatunji, Michael Babatunde (1965). Musical Instruments of Africa: Their Nature, Use, and Place in The Life of a Deeply Musical People. New York City: John Day Company. p. 47. The thumb piano... many names given to this instrument throughout Africa... In other parts of Africa it is called the kaffir piano, the kasayi, the maduimba, the insimbi, the oopoochawa, the kinsanji, and the eleke.
External linksEdit
Lamellophone players list from N. Scott Robinson site
at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 October 2014) and "Idiophone", OnMusic Dictionary (accessed 24 May 2020).
lamellophone, lamellophone, also, lamellaphone, linguaphone, member, family, musical, instruments, that, makes, sound, thin, vibrating, plate, called, lamella, tongue, which, fixed, other, free, when, musician, depresses, free, plate, with, finger, fingernail,. A lamellophone also lamellaphone or linguaphone is a member of the family of musical instruments that makes its sound by a thin vibrating plate called a lamella or tongue which is fixed at one end and has the other end free When the musician depresses the free end of a plate with a finger or fingernail and then allows the finger to slip off the released plate vibrates An instrument may have a single tongue such as a Jew s harp or a series of multiple tongues such as a mbira thumb piano A Hugh Tracey treble kalimba A Jew s harp Linguaphone comes from the Latin root lingua meaning tongue i e a long thin plate that is fixed only at one end lamellophone comes from the Latin word lamella for small metal plate 1 and the Greek word fwnh phone for sound voice 2 The lamellophones constitute category 12 in the Hornbostel Sachs system for classifying musical instruments plucked idiophones There are two main categories of plucked idiophones those that are in the form of a frame 121 and those that are in the form of a comb 122 According to Sachs 3 The most usual of plucked idiophones is a flexible lamella or tongue attached to a frame plucked by a finger and resonated by a small box Contents 1 African lamellophones 2 Electric lamellophones 2 1 Piezo pickup lamellophones 2 2 Electro magnetic lamellophones 3 Schaeffner s classification 4 List of lamellophones 4 1 In the form of a frame 121 4 2 In the form of a comb 122 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksAfrican lamellophones EditMain article Thumb piano A large number of lamellophones originate in Africa where they are known under different names including mbira kisanji likembe kalimba kongoma and sanza They play a role in southeast African Music They were reported as early as the 16th century but there is no doubt they have a much longer history The Caribbean marimbula is also of this family The marimbula can be seen as a bass variant of the mbira and is sometimes used in hip hop music citation needed In most cases the tongues are divided in two playing halves with the lowest notes in the centre from there to the left and to the right each tongue is tuned higher than the previous one The tongues may also be arranged in a linear arrangement in the manner of a piano Tongues may be made small enough to play with individual fingers hence the colloquial name thumb piano Although some instruments like the Mbira have an additional rows of tongues in which case not just the thumbs are used for plucking 4 Some conjecture that African lamellophones were derived from xylophones and marimbas However similar instruments have been found elsewhere for example the indigenous peoples of Siberia play wooden and metallic lamellophones with a single tongue citation needed Lamellophones may be made with or without resonators There are also electric lamellophones with an additional pickup Electric lamellophones EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Electric lamellophones have been electrified with an electro magnetic pickup like on electric guitars or contact piezo pickup nbsp The electric Array mbira Piezo pickup lamellophones Edit There is a distinct difference between the piezo and the electro magnetic pickup Most electric lamellophones feature piezo pickups The piezo sound contains more treble and has more problems with feedback when amplified distorted heavily Lucinda Ellison produces a wide range of her Embiras which are solid body electric mbiras with piezo pickups a design first conceived in 1981 and finalised in 1996 David Bellinger has been making ekalimbas kalimbas with piezo pickups for 20 years The Array Mbira is a lamellophone with an alternate tine configuration It is electrified by the addition of a 2 channel stereo piezo cable pickup system A special solid body Array mbira exists Electro magnetic lamellophones Edit nbsp The guitaret Ernst Zacharias created a series of electric lamellophones created in the 1960s for Hohner These instruments were based on the reeds made by Hohner already employed in accordions concertinas melodicas and harmonicas These instruments were the Pianet plucked by a foam pad the Cembalet plucked by a rubber pad and the Guitaret plucked by fingers The idea of a struck reed tongue had been pioneered by the Alexandre brothers in their Orgues expressifs harmoniums in the 19th century where they were called percussion stops The Space Harp or Frankiphone designed built and played by Phil Cohran is a famous instance of an electric lamellophone A range of other mbiras and kalimbas have been created by contemporary instrument makers The African band Konono No 1 uses custom built electric kalimbas with electro magnetic pickups Neptune s Jason Sanford makes electric thumb pianos from scrap in a similar tradition and Yuri Landman has made 12 TET bass kalimbas and metal tongue drums Schaeffner s classification Edit nbsp Plucked flexible idiophonesSchaeffner s musical instrument classification scheme has a post prominent place for the linguaphones lamellophones at the second highest level of classification In 1932 Andre Schaeffner developed a new classification scheme that was exhaustive potentially covering all real and conceivable instruments Kartomi p 176 Schaeffner s system has only two top level categories denoted by Roman numerals Schaeffner A Origine des instruments de musique pp 371 377 I instruments that make sound from vibrating solids IA Solids not susceptibles of tension equivalent to a big part of Hornbostel amp Sachs idiophones IB Flexible solids equivalent to mainly linguaphones IC Tensionable solids equivalent to both membranophones and chordophones II instruments that make sound from vibrating air aerophones List of lamellophones EditMain article List of idiophones by Hornbostel Sachs number In the form of a frame 121 Edit The lamellae vibrate within a frame or hoop121 1 Clack idiophones or Cricri The lamella is carved in the surface of a fruit shell which serves as resonator 5 Also known as galip nut snapper 6 121 2 Guimbardes and jaw harps The lamella is mounted in a rod or plaque shaped frame and depends on the player s mouth cavity for resonance 121 21 Idioglot guimbardes The lamella is of one substance with the frame of the instrument Đan moi 121 22 Heteroglot guimbardes The lamella is attached to the frame 121 221 Individual heteroglot guimbardes dd Jew s harp Morsing dd 121 222 Sets of heteroglot guimbardes dd Kouxian dd nbsp 121 21 Đan moi Vietnam Instrument carved from a single piece of bamboo nbsp 121 221 Murchunga Nepal nbsp 121 222 A Kouxian played by plucking the ends in front of the oral cavity The lamellae resonate to produce sound In the form of a comb 122 Edit nbsp Whale Drum with 8 tongues from Emil Richards Collection nbsp Argentinian quisanche made of wood has five tempered steel reeds which are dotted to mark a melodic bass in the Buenos Aires candombe The lamellae are tied to a board or cut out from a board like the teeth of a comb 122 1 With laced on lamellae Array mbira Agidigbo Nigeria 7 Eleke 7 Ikembe Insimbi 7 Kalimba Kasayi 7 Kisanji 7 Likembe Lukembe Congo and Tanganyika 7 Maduimba 7 Malimbe Marimbula Caribbean thumb piano Mbira 7 Chisanza mbira Elisabethville 7 Kalimba mbira Southern Rhodesia 7 Njara mbira Southern Rhodesia 7 Shona mbira Southern Rhodesia 7 Oopoochawa 7 Prempensua Ghana Thumb piano Tom Ethiopia Sanza Sansa Equatorial Africa and West Africa 7 Space Harp Whale Drum Zimbabwean Marimba 122 11 Without resonator 122 12 With resonator 122 2 With cut out lamellae Comb Mechanical music box Slit drum Steel tongue drum TeponaztliSee also EditMusic of Africa GravikordReferences EditGerhard Kubik Lamellophone in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ed Stanley Sadie Macmillan Publishers London 1981Specific lamella Charlton T Lewis and Charles Short A Latin Dictionary on Perseus Project fwnh Liddell Henry George Scott Robert A Greek English Lexicon at the Perseus Project Sachs Curt 1940 The History of Musical Instruments p 455 W W Nortan amp Company Inc ISBN 0 393 02068 1 MBIRA Organization Pointers for Mbira Students MBIRA The Non Profit Organization Devoted to Traditional Music of Zimbabwe Wordpress Retrieved 14 June 2022 Your left thumb plays all of the double row of keys Your right thumb plays ONLY the farthest left longest 3 keys in the single row Your right index finger plucks up on the rest of the keys in the single row SVH Classification Virtual Instrument Museum Archived from the original on 17 February 2013 Retrieved 26 March 2017 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Fischer Hans 1983 1986 Sound producing Instruments in Oceania p 52 Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies ASIN B0010S35VW a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Warner Dietz Betty Olatunji Michael Babatunde 1965 Musical Instruments of Africa Their Nature Use and Place in The Life of a Deeply Musical People New York City John Day Company p 47 The thumb piano many names given to this instrument throughout Africa In other parts of Africa it is called the kaffir piano the kasayi the maduimba the insimbi the oopoochawa the kinsanji and the eleke External links EditLamellophone players list from N Scott Robinson site Idiophone Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary at the Wayback Machine archived 11 October 2014 and Idiophone OnMusic Dictionary accessed 24 May 2020 SVH Classification Virtual Instrument Museum at the Wayback Machine archived 17 February 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lamellophone amp oldid 1178347514 Electric lamellophones, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
