March 2022 update

[Sympathetic Resonances]

Dear SR users,

here's what changed on symres.org recently:

Streamlined User Interface

At the request of a certain Joel from Texas, I've recently started working on something I wanted to do for a long time but have always put off: Decluttering SR's editor.

You'll see it right away next time you open a mbira piece: The metadata section now only shows fields which actually contain something. Most editing controls are hidden until you click on a table.

The idea is to initially only show what you need to see to play and learn pieces and hide the "creator interface" until you need it.

I've also redesigned the Insert, Append, Duplicate & Delete button panel for changing table dimensions.

With this v2.4 release there are new bits of Javascript in place that you never know if they will work perfectly on all devices and browsers.

Please let me know how you like the new look and especially if you notice any glitches!

I've also learned that these forum messages sometimes end up in spam folders. So perhaps if you read this mail, reply in any case with a quick thumbs up (or down, if you don't like the changes... :)

Revised "Mbira dzavadzimu" and "Mbira dzavadzimu (with extra keys)"

the mbira dzavadzimu was the first instrument on symres.org. Meanwhile there are seven types of mbiras, and most of the public content on the platform is for these. Check it out it if you haven't already! You can translate pieces to other mbira types, and get new inspiration.

My focus on creating learning opportunities for the marginalized mbira species has led me to neglect work on the mbira dzavadzimu for a long time. Many of the newer techniques for dealing with layout variations and extra keys/manuals on the Njari and Ndau mbira, for example, have not yet been used. I've also learned a lot that (I hope) helps me make more informed design decisions.

Over the past week I have reimplemented the two instrument classes as if I had added them today. I've changed some code as old as 2012 (which is even before SR was online)!

The division of tasks between the two classes has shifted somewhat, and I have unified the "Position" notation. Now both support the extra bass key, so the standard "Mbira dzavadzimu" class is already sufficient to transcribe and play back pieces with that key. In both, the bass seys are numbered 1-7 in Position notation, and the extra key is called B2x (in Pitch notation: B2,).

The former Position notation of "Mbira dzavadzimu (with extra keys)" in which the keys were numbered from 1-8, is no longer used. While technically correct, it was of little practical use. All pieces using it were automatically translated to the new Position notation.

While both classes can play the B2x key, they treat it differently when transposing or translating pieces: In this case, the "extra" class assumes the B2x key is present, while the "standard" class assumes it isn't, skipping or substituting it.

The "extra" class is thus a superset of the "standard" class with every notation. Pieces never have to be translated from standard to extra class. It is enough to simply select the other class. In the future I will extend the "extra" class with all extra keys and extension manuals of historical and contemporary instruments. Currently, it contains the LI3 key which you can find on Gandanga mbiras made by Sekuru Gora and Tute Chigamba, and some downward extensions of the RT manual.

Mbira animations

I've added visualisation for the "Mbira dzavazimu (with extra keys)" class. All "virtual mbiras" now better match the layout of each individual instrument.

          

Translator improvements

When translating pieces, table rows with empty captions are now always kept verbatim at the bottom of translated parts. This standardises the former informal practice of using emtpy-caption tracks for lyrics and other free-form content (e.g. here).

Added transposition to the mbira dzavazimu (with extra keys) translator list.

Removed Art of Mbira notations

Removed two experimental notations (Art of Mbira lines and Art of Mbira notes). Not really useful.

Yours,

Stefan