The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo; it is considered the "national instrument" of Madagascar.[1] The term is also used to describe a number of related zithers of differing shapes and materials.[2]
A valiha player in Ambohimahasoa, central MadagascarLullaby played on valihaValiha orchestra at the Paris World Exposition of 1931.Valiha with larger diameter bamboo tube.
The instrument has been held in high regard among the Malagasy particularly in the Merina rule over the island that having long fingernails ideal for plucking its strings were marks "distinguishing the aristocracy from the labourers".[3][4] Aside from recreational music, the valiha is also used for ritual music to summon spirits.[5]
Historically the instrument was made of the bamboo Valiha diffusa, but in the modern day "bamboo species with longer internodes" are used.[7] The bamboo poles used for building the valiha are chosen between diameters of 5 to 10 cm and preferably cut within a length of 35 to 180 cm.[4]
The valiha generally has 21-24 strings. Historically these were formed of strips of the bamboo body,[3] prised up and raised by small calabash or wooden bridges that also act as movable tuners, but in the modern day the strings are often made of unwound bicycle brake cable tied through nails,[4] though serious players may use standard guitar or piano strings[8] used for churches and folk bands.
A variant instrument, the marovany, is similar in concept but boxlike rather than tubular, and made of wood or sheet metal.[8]
Playersedit
One of the most celebrated valiha players of the twentieth century is Rakotozafy (born 1938).[9] The majority of Rakotozafy's few recorded performances were made live at the central studio of Malagasy Radio. Sylvestre Randafison is another celebrated valiha artist considered a cultural icon in Madagascar.[10]
Adams, Rashid Epstein. "The Making of a National Instrument: Imagery, Symbolism and the Social Function of the Malagasy Valiha", Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography XLIII/1-2 (2018), 141–157.
Referencesedit
^Bruno Nettl (1985). The Western impact on world – change, adaptation, and survival. Schirmer Books. p. 55. ISBN978-0-02-870860-7.
^Garland Encyclopedia of World Music (11 January 2013). The Concise Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Routledge. pp. 123–. ISBN978-1-136-09570-2.
^ abShaw, Geo (8 November 1879). "Music among the Malagasy". The Musical Standard. 17 (797): 297. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
^ abcSchmidhoffer, August (4–8 October 2005), "Some Remarks on the Austronesian Background of Malagasy Music" (PDF), The 2005 International Forum of Ethnomusicology in Taiwan, Taipei: Soochow University, Taiwan
^Hans Austnaberg (2008). Shepherds and Demons: A Study of Exorcism as Practised and Understood by Shepherds in the Malagasy Lutheran Church. Peter Lang. pp. 158–. ISBN978-0-8204-9717-4.
^Devir, Nathan (2016). "Origins and Motivations of Madagascar's Normative Jewish Movement". In Parfitt, Tudor; Fisher, Netanʾel (eds.). Becoming Jewish: new Jews and emerging Jewish communities in a globalised world. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 49–63. ISBN978-1-4438-9965-9.
^Dominique Louppe (2008). Plant Resources of Tropical Africa: Timbers / ed.: D. Louppe ; A. A. Oteng-Amoako. General ed.: R. H. M. J. Lemmens .... 7. 1. PROTA. pp. 573–. ISBN978-90-5782-209-4.
^ abElijah Wald (2007). Global Minstrels: Voices of World Music. Taylor & Francis. pp. 62–. ISBN978-0-415-97930-6.
^American Lutherie: The Quarterly Journal of the Guild of American Luthiers. The Guild. 1993. p. 22.
valiha, plant, genus, plant, valiha, tube, zither, from, madagascar, made, from, species, local, bamboo, considered, national, instrument, madagascar, term, also, used, describe, number, related, zithers, differing, shapes, materials, valiha, player, ambohimah. For the plant genus see Valiha plant The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo it is considered the national instrument of Madagascar 1 The term is also used to describe a number of related zithers of differing shapes and materials 2 A valiha player in Ambohimahasoa central Madagascar source source Lullaby played on valihaValiha orchestra at the Paris World Exposition of 1931 Valiha with larger diameter bamboo tube The instrument has been held in high regard among the Malagasy particularly in the Merina rule over the island that having long fingernails ideal for plucking its strings were marks distinguishing the aristocracy from the labourers 3 4 Aside from recreational music the valiha is also used for ritual music to summon spirits 5 It is commonly believed in Madagascar that the valiha is inherited from King David as part of a larger origin myth of Jewish provenance of Malagasy people 6 Contents 1 Construction 2 Players 3 See also 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksConstruction editHistorically the instrument was made of the bamboo Valiha diffusa but in the modern day bamboo species with longer internodes are used 7 The bamboo poles used for building the valiha are chosen between diameters of 5 to 10 cm and preferably cut within a length of 35 to 180 cm 4 The valiha generally has 21 24 strings Historically these were formed of strips of the bamboo body 3 prised up and raised by small calabash or wooden bridges that also act as movable tuners but in the modern day the strings are often made of unwound bicycle brake cable tied through nails 4 though serious players may use standard guitar or piano strings 8 used for churches and folk bands A variant instrument the marovany is similar in concept but boxlike rather than tubular and made of wood or sheet metal 8 Players editOne of the most celebrated valiha players of the twentieth century is Rakotozafy born 1938 9 The majority of Rakotozafy s few recorded performances were made live at the central studio of Malagasy Radio Sylvestre Randafison is another celebrated valiha artist considered a cultural icon in Madagascar 10 See also editMusic of Madagascar UkuleleBibliography editAdams Rashid Epstein The Making of a National Instrument Imagery Symbolism and the Social Function of the Malagasy Valiha Music in Art International Journal for Music Iconography XLIII 1 2 2018 141 157 References edit Bruno Nettl 1985 The Western impact on world change adaptation and survival Schirmer Books p 55 ISBN 978 0 02 870860 7 Garland Encyclopedia of World Music 11 January 2013 The Concise Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Routledge pp 123 ISBN 978 1 136 09570 2 a b Shaw Geo 8 November 1879 Music among the Malagasy The Musical Standard 17 797 297 Retrieved 15 November 2010 a b c Schmidhoffer August 4 8 October 2005 Some Remarks on the Austronesian Background of Malagasy Music PDF The 2005 International Forum of Ethnomusicology in Taiwan Taipei Soochow University Taiwan Hans Austnaberg 2008 Shepherds and Demons A Study of Exorcism as Practised and Understood by Shepherds in the Malagasy Lutheran Church Peter Lang pp 158 ISBN 978 0 8204 9717 4 Devir Nathan 2016 Origins and Motivations of Madagascar s Normative Jewish Movement In Parfitt Tudor Fisher Netanʾel eds Becoming Jewish new Jews and emerging Jewish communities in a globalised world Newcastle upon Tyne Cambridge Scholars Publishing pp 49 63 ISBN 978 1 4438 9965 9 Dominique Louppe 2008 Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Timbers ed D Louppe A A Oteng Amoako General ed R H M J Lemmens 7 1 PROTA pp 573 ISBN 978 90 5782 209 4 a b Elijah Wald 2007 Global Minstrels Voices of World Music Taylor amp Francis pp 62 ISBN 978 0 415 97930 6 American Lutherie The Quarterly Journal of the Guild of American Luthiers The Guild 1993 p 22 Sylvestre Randafison Obituary The Independent 20 August 2003External links editA traditional Valiha Museum of Art and Archeology of the University of Antananarivo Madagascar dead link A Valiha on line course by Bana Rahalahy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Valiha amp oldid 1212842197, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
