March 2024 update: matepe.org, Mozambique recordings fundraiser, new instruments and samples
Stefan Franke
Dear SR users,
It's been a while since my last newsletter, so some of the news here may not be that new to some. I hope you're all doing well and enjoying playing your mbiras!
Over the past year I've only been able to work on the platform sporadically. Most of the time I could spare for my mbira activities was spent on the matepe project, which is now on the home stretch:
matepe.org
As of this week, all matepe learning videos are online, freely available. Simply register and accept the terms of use.
Unlike an academic publication, our focus is on cultural preservation. The primary target audience is Zimbabweans locally and in the diaspora. Watching long videos online is not an option for many Zimbabweans, and all materials will soon be available for offline copy, too, distributed through a number of local cultural centres and individuals.
For each of the 44 matepe parts there is first a video in which
Sekuru Chawasarira teaches the music and its minor variations as
if you were sitting next to him. In a second video, he then talks
about each piece or version, its history and ceremonial use,
sharing plenty of traditional wisdom and historical knowledge
along the way.
We are currently working on the second milestone - a tutorial for
building matepe - which will be available in a few weeks.
Yesterday there was a beautiful presentation concert in Harare,
organised by Katrin Simon from the German Embassy and Othnell
'Mangoma' Moyo, with many mbira legends sharing the stage
including Sekuru
Chawasarira, Mangoma with his children, Forward Kwenda,
Jacob Mafuleni, and Nyunga Nyunga power trio Hope
Masike, Mary Anibal, and Nancy Nasibo Mutize.
I hope to get longer video and audio recordings soon.
In Germany we will soon have some presentation concerts, too,
with this
new collaboration.
If you don't play matepe but still want to follow the matepe project more closely, just sign up with matepe.org.
Album recordings - Kalimba players from Central Mozambique
Fundraiser:
https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/92G93MTgza
After almost a year's break, I am happy that we can finally continue our project with the Mozambican mbira players. The next step is a recording session that will result in an album release on Bandcamp.
As luck would have it, SR user Leonard Gaab is currently
traveling in Zimbabwe with decent recording equipment and had the
interest and time to conduct the recordings.
Participants:
- Sekuru
Manejo, plays and makes the ultra-rare Nyonganyonga mbira
- Sekuru
Macequessa, plays and makes the equally rare 4-finger
Kalimba nkulu
- Kalimba mudoko (chizanzi) players Sekuru Keni, Sekuru Kapampanta, and João Veruca
- for the musicians' transport, food and accommodation
- the musicians a fee for the recording session
- for the facilitators' own expenses (all of us work for free)
- for the album production
Donors of $/€20 or more will receive the album as soon as it is
ready.
Please share!
New instrument classes: Mana embudzi, Drums + Percussion
(experimental)
You have probably seen in in the menus: There are two new instrument types, the Mozambican Mana embudzi (which may be completely extinct today), and Drums + Percussion.
New mbira samples
Besides the mana embudzi above (TIC 129), there are a couple of new matepe and mbira dzavadzimu tunings. From left to right:
* The matepe by Chaka Chawasarira that we used in the matepe.org tutorials
* James
Kamwaza's own hera, in a slightly different tuning than his
other ones on SR ("Sekuru Katoro tuning")
* Othnell "Mangoma" Moyo's nhare in what he calls "Bandambira G#" tuning.
By the way, new instruments always appear on the top of the instrument gallery sections.
Feature: Embed images
Links to images now appear
embedded into the pieces pages.
Andrew Tracey (1936-2024)
In case you have missed it, Andrew Tracey, the giant on whose
shoulder SR stands, sadly passed away in January. More information
in the description of this video.
- Stefan