The dan bau is a one-string zither native to Vietnam. Initially, the dan bau had only four components: a bamboo cylinder, a wooden stick, half…
Dan Bau, the One-String Zither of Vietnam
Category: Articles
The Sarod, A Vital Lute in the Hindustani Music Tradition
The sarod is a stringed musical instrument that is commonly used in the Hindustani music tradition of northern India. It belongs to the lute family…
KC + The Sunshine Band = World Music?
Okay, the answer to the title question is no. But even if KC and his crew don’t fit the admittedly subjective “world music” label, they…
The Rare Malian n’dan
The Malian n’dan is a remarkable descendant of one of the world’s oldest string instruments. Classified by organologists as a pluriarc , denoting ‘many bows,’…
Album Changed the World
Nearly 60 years ago, in the spring of 1964, an emerging British rhythm and blues band released their first album. It was an event that…
From Bangalore to Goa: Echoes of Earth festival combines international music with environmental conservation messages
Echoes of Earth, positioned as one of India’s “greenest festivals”, brings its message of musical creativity and environmental sustainability to Bangalore and Goa in 2023-2024.…
A Brief Dive into the Ngoni, West Africa’s Traditional Lute
The ngoni is a traditional West African spike lute with a 38.1 cm – 45.7 cm (15-18 inches) long body crafted from hand-carved hardwood or…
The Bodhrán, Ireland’s Thrilling Groove Machine
The bodhrán, a traditional Irish frame drum, has been an integral part of Irish music for centuries, providing versatility in various musical styles ranging from…
Bolero: A Romantic Musical Genre with Cuban Origins
Bolero is a sentimental genre of song that originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Trovadores were…
South Indian Konnakol: A Quick Overview
Konnakol is a skilled art form of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music. It is the spoken component of solkattu or tattakaram,…